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Cressler, Alan

Erigeron speciosus

Erigeron speciosus (Lindl.) DC.

Aspen Fleabane, Showy Fleabane

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: ersp4

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Clusters of leafy stems,1 to 3 ft. tall, rise from the woody rootstock of this perennial. Each stem bears several showy, nearly 2 in. wide flower heads with from 70-150 blue, or rarely white, narrow rays. A leafy stem branches near the top into leafless stalks, each with one flower head at the end, with many narrow pink, lavender or white rays surrounding a yellow disc. The disc flowers are yellow-orange. The lower leaves of this plant tend to fall off as the season advances.

This Erigeron has one of the showiest heads, reflected in the species name, speciosus, which means "pretty." The similar Hairy Showy Daisy (E. subtrinervis) has spreading hairs over most of the stem and leaves.

From the Image Gallery

16 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall, often shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Rays blue to lavender, rarely white.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , ID , MT , NM , NV , OR , SD , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC
Native Distribution: Alt. to s. B.C., s. to NM & AZ; also Black Hills & adjacent WY
Native Habitat: Open woods

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Dry to moist soils.
Conditions Comments: Showy fleabane will form colonies. Divide mature plants when the rosettes begin to overlap. Remove fallen leaves from nearby trees in the fall, at they can smother the rosettes and cause them to rot.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Supports Conservation Biological Control

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Seeds may be sown outside in late fall or the following spring without any cold treatment. Only a small percentage of the seeds will germinate, so sow thickly. Seeds require light to germinate. A more practical method of propagation is division. Separ
Seed Collection: Nutlets develop rapidly in the 2-3 weeks following bloom period. Collect seedheads in a paper bag when the nutlets begin to turn brown. Air-dry, clean and seal in a stored, refrigerated container.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Erigeron speciosus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Erigeron speciosus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Erigeron speciosus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-26
Research By: TWC Staff

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