# Alpine Yellow Fleabane (*erigeron aureus*)

The Alpine Yellow Fleabane (Erigeron aureus) is a delightful, low-growing perennial herb that brings a splash of brilliant gold to the stark, windswept landscapes of northwestern North America's high mountain ranges. Thriving in alpine and subalpine zones, this resilient little plant clings to rocky crevices, talus slopes, and gravelly ridges where few other species can survive. It is celebrated by hikers and botanists alike for its cheerful, daisy-like appearance, which stands in stark contrast to the rugged alpine terrain. As a true high-altitude specialist, Erigeron aureus has evolved to withstand extreme cold, intense ultraviolet radiation, and drying winds, making it a rugged survivor of the peaks.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Found on rocky ridges, scree slopes, and alpine meadows at high elevations, typically near or above the treeline.

![Alpine Yellow Fleabane](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/553202342/medium.jpg)

Photo: James H. Thomas, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/553202342)

## Appearance

This species is easily recognized by its bright golden-yellow flower heads, which measure about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters across. Unlike most other fleabanes, which have white or violet ray florets, the Alpine Yellow Fleabane features brilliant yellow petals surrounding a darker orange-yellow central disc. The plant is diminutive, reaching only 5 to 15 centimeters in height. Its spatula-shaped leaves are densely covered in fine, white, woolly hairs, giving the foliage a soft, greyish-green appearance.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Erigeron

## Interesting facts

- Despite its common name 'fleabane,' there is no scientific evidence that this plant can actually repel fleas.
- It is one of the very few Erigeron species with bright yellow flowers, as most others are white, pink, or light violet.
- The plant's deep taproot allows it to anchor firmly into shifting gravelly scree slopes and access deep water reserves.

## Special abilities

- **Woolly Insulation:** Dense, fine white hairs coat the leaves and stems, acting as insulation against freezing alpine temperatures and reducing water loss from drying winds.
- **Compact Growth Habit:** Forms a low-lying, ground-hugging rosette that minimizes exposure to wind and traps a micro-layer of warm air close to the soil.
- **UV Protection:** Synthesizes specialized protective pigments and reflects intense high-altitude solar radiation using its reflective leaf hairs.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 5-15 cm
- **Lifespan:** 3-10 years

## Diet & Feeding

As a plant, it creates its own energy from sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and essential nutrients absorbed from rocky alpine soils.

- **Primary Foods:** Sunlight, Water, Carbon dioxide, Soil minerals
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Mutualism:** Forest Bumblebee (*Bombus sylvicola*) — Pollinated by high-altitude bees seeking nectar during the brief summer flowering window.
- **Eaten by:** [Hoary Marmot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hoary-marmot) (*Marmota caligata*) — Leaves and stems may be occasionally grazed by alpine rodents looking for green vegetation.

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Alpine Yellow Fleabane?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Alpine Yellow Fleabane?

5-15 cm

### How long does Alpine Yellow Fleabane live?

3-10 years

### What does Alpine Yellow Fleabane eat?

As a plant, it creates its own energy from sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and essential nutrients absorbed from rocky alpine soils.

### Where is Alpine Yellow Fleabane usually found?

Found on rocky ridges, scree slopes, and alpine meadows at high elevations, typically near or above the treeline.

### How does Alpine Yellow Fleabane hunt?

Foraging

## Where to spot

- [Pasayten Wilderness](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pasayten-wilderness) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Alpine Yellow Fleabane: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/alpine-yellow-fleabane)