Corethrogyne Filaginifolia, California Aster

Plants > Wildflowers > Asteraceae > Corethrogyne Filaginifolia

Pink rays and yellow disc florets - California aster (corethrogyne filaginifolia), in the wildflower garden at Montana de Oro State Park

Common names:

California aster, common sand aster

Family:

Aster (Asteraceae)

Scientific name:

Corethrogyne filaginifolia

Synonym:

lessingia filaginifolia

Main flower color:

Pink

Range:

South and west (coastal) California, southwest Oregon

Height:

Up to 3 feet

Habitat:

Coastal scrubland, chaparral, woodland

Leaves:

Up to 3 inches long, linear to ovate; those towards the base may be toothed. Hairy

Season:

January to December

Corethrogyne filaginifolia blooms all year, reflecting its wide geographic range from sea level to 9,000 foot mountains, but the peak season is July to November. Flowers have between 10 and 50 light pink ray florets (less often white or purple), surrounding a wide center of up to 120 yellow to orange disc florets. Underneath are several rows of small, purple-tipped green phyllaries, which curl backwards slightly when the flower is in full bloom. The plant ranges from the coast of southwest Oregon, along the California coast and across the Sierra Nevada to the Mojave Desert.