Daisy (14)
Daisies, also called Fleabanes, are distinguished from Asters by their phyllaries (bracts), which circle the under-side of the flower. An aster has phyllaries that overlap, like shingles, while a daisy's are about the same length in a row, like a fence. Asters bloom later in the summer than daisies. Some daisies range from white to lavender, see Pink Headed Daisy and White Daisies for more. Here are a few of the many lavender daisies.
Tufted Fleabane
Erigeron caespitosus
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
Jul 18, 2016
Location:
CO SR 114, S of Cochetopa Pass
Life Zones:
Plains, foothills and montane
Habitat: Rocky, sandy hills, roadsides
Grows from 2" to 10" high with lance-shaped leaves. This one was 4". Stems, leaves and phyllaries are covered in hairs. Flower heads are ¾" across. Ray flowers are white to bluish.
Flora of North America reference.
Spreading Daisy
Erigeron divergens
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Spreading Fleabane
Photo taken on:
August 4, 2005
Location:
Almont,CO
Life Zones:
Plains to montane
Habitat:
Sandy and rocky soil
Grows low, spreading and hairy to 18" in dense clusters with many branches growing from a single stem. Short leaves on the stems grow upwards. Flowers are white to lavender with numerous narrow rays. Flowers are 1" across.
Flora of North America reference.
Sprucefir Fleabane
Erigeron eximius (E. superbus)
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Regal Daisy, Splendid Daisy
Photo taken on:
September 14, 2010
Location:
Cerro Grande Trail, NM
Life Zones:
Montane
Habitat:
Conifer forests
Grows to 18" with a 2" flower head and few stem leaves. Leaves are entire and lance-shaped. There are two rows of green phyllaries with short white hairs, sometimes reddish-tipped.
Flora of North America reference.
Beautiful Fleabane
Erigeron formosissimus
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
July 24, 2007
Location:
Taylor Park, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to subalpine
Habitat:
Meadows, openings
Grows in masses to 12" with mostly basal leaves and a single flower on the stem. Flowers are 1 ½" across with slightly hairy, sticky phyllaries.
Flora of North America reference.
Streamside Fleabane
Erigeron glabellus var. pubescens
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA: Smooth Fleabane
Photo taken on:
Jul 16, 2015
Location:
Almont, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Plains, foothills and montane
Habitat: Gravelly soil, moist meadows, open woods
Grows 3" to 20" (this one 14") with spreading hairs on the stems. Basal leaves are oblong to spatulate, stem leaves more lance-shaped. Flower head is about 1" across with 125-175 narrow rays and a flat yellow center. Phyllaries are green and slightly hairy, together about ⅜" across.
Compare to Three-Nerved Fleabane which is taller, has larger flowers and hairier leaves.
Flora of North America reference.
Subalpine Daisy
Erigeron glacialis
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Glacier Daisy
Photo taken on:
August 16, 2004
Location:
Cinnamon Mountain, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Subalpine to alpine
Habitat:
Meadows
Grows to 20" in colonies with sturdy stems and thick narrow lance-shaped leaves. Flowers are to 1 ½" across with wide violet rays.
Flora of North America reference.
Large-Flower Fleabane
Erigeron grandiflorus (E. simplex)
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Rocky Mountain Alpine Fleabane, One-flowered Daisy,
One-stem Fleabane
Photo taken on:
July 28, 2005
Location:
Cottonwood Pass, CO
Life Zones:
Alpine
Habitat:
Meadows, rocky slopes
Grows from 2" to 10" high. A single flower up to 2" across grows on top of a single hairy stem. Flowers can be blue to pink. The phyllaries are woolly with purple or white hairs.
Flora of North America reference.
Rockslide Daisy
Erigeron leiomerus
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Smooth Daisy
Photo taken on:
July 28, 2005
Location:
Cottonwood Pass, CO
Life Zones:
Alpine
Habitat:
Scree
Grows to 5" in tight mats with smooth, narrow leaves. A single flower grows on top of a leafless stem. Flowers range from lavender to white.
Flora of North America reference.
Pinnate-leaved Daisy
Erigeron pinnatisectus
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Featherleaf Fleabane
Photo taken on:
July 12, 2009
Location:
Scarp Ridge, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Alpine
Habitat:
Scree, rocky slopes
Plant 4"-5". Leaves are small and finely divided and grow from the base of the plant. Flowers are 1" across.
Flora of North America reference.
Showy Daisy
Erigeron speciosus
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Meadow Fleabane, Aspen Daisy, Showy Fleabane
Photo taken on:
August 7, 2005
Location:
Oh-be-Joyful, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to subalpine
Habitat:
Openings and edges of woods
Grows in large colonies to 3ft. Stems are maroon-tinged and leafy. Leaves are narrow and hairless. Fuzzy lavender buds open to narrow-rayed lavender flowers in showy displays.
Flora of North America reference.
Three-Nerved Fleabane
Erigeron subtrinervis
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
June 16, 2006
Location:
Almont, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to subalpine
Habitat:
Meadows
Grows from 6" to 3ft (this one 20") with branching, finely hairy, leafy stems. Basal leaves are oblong to spatulate, stem leaves are narrower and clasp the stem. Leaves have fine hairs and three veins, the mid-vein more prominent. Flowers are more than 1" across with very narrow pinkish to lavender rays and finely hairy green phyllaries which together are ½" across.
Flora of North America does not mention the three veined leaves which give the plant its name. Identified from G. K. Guennel's book.
Bear River Fleabane
Erigeron ursinus
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Bear River Daisy
Photo taken on:
July 13, 2012
Location:
Poverty Gulch, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Montane to subalpine
Habitat: Meadows, forest openings
Grows to 8" with dark green leaves on purplish, hairy stems. One to three flower heads have purplish phyllaries which can also be hairy. Flower heads have up to 100 lavender rays, although this sample is lacking quite a few.
Flora of North America reference.
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
May 18, 2012
Location:
Capitol Reef NP, UT
Life Zones:
Plains and foothills
Habitat:
Dry, rocky areas, canyons
Grows to over 1 foot high in clumps with many stems. Flowers range from blue to pink to white and have 10 to 40 rays.
Flora of North America reference.
Early Bluetop Fleabane
Erigeron vetensis
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
June 1, 2016
Location:
FS 27, Santa Fe NF, NM
Life Zones:
Foothills to subalpine
Habitat:
Dry, rocky slopes, ponderosa
Grows 4" to 10" in clumps with narrow, upright, basal leaves and stems. Flower is pale blue to white, an early bloomer.
Flora of North America reference.