# California Aster (*Corethrogyne filaginifolia*) The California Aster is a pretty flower that blooms in bright purple and yellow colors. It grows in sunny places and attracts butterflies and bees, making gardens look beautiful and lively! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![California Aster](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lessingia_filaginifolia_var_filaginifolia_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lessingia_filaginifolia_var_filaginifolia_1.jpg) ## Appearance The California Aster is a daisy-like plant featuring numerous lavender to pale purple ray florets surrounding a bright yellow center of disc florets. Its stems are often wiry, and its narrow, green leaves can be notably fuzzy, giving it a soft, grayish appearance that sets it apart from many other wildflowers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Corethrogyne ## Interesting facts - Butterflies and bees absolutely love to feast on the sweet nectar of these purple-pink flowers! - It's a "pioneer plant," often one of the very first to grow in disturbed areas! - Its scientific name, Corethrogyne, means "broom-like woman"! - This tough plant can grow right on windy cliffs overlooking the sparkling ocean! ## Special abilities - **Drought Buster:** California Aster has fuzzy leaves and a deep root system that help it survive long periods without much water. - **Pollinator Magnet:** Its abundant, nectar-rich flowers act like a beacon, drawing in essential bees and butterflies to help it reproduce. - **Soil Survivor:** California Aster can thrive in challenging, disturbed, or poor soils where many other less resilient plants would struggle. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-120 cm - **Flower Size:** 1.5-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Yellow-faced Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-faced-bumble-bee) (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Visits the blooms for a vital source of nectar. - **Pollinates:** Painted Lady Butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Feeds on the nectar, aiding in pollination. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers in nature to keep them safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify California Aster? 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 tall is California Aster? 30-90 cm ### How wide does California Aster spread? 30-120 cm ### How big are the flowers on California Aster? 1.5-3 cm ### When does California Aster bloom? Late spring to fall ### Is California Aster edible? No ### Is California Aster toxic? None ### What is California Aster's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Cabrillo National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrillo-national-monument) — California, US · National Park - [Point Dume State Beach](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-dume-state-beach) — California, US · State Park - [Shambala Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shambala-preserve) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see California Aster](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/california-aster) ## 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*) --- Source: [California Aster: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-aster)