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California Aster

Corethrogyne filaginifolia · Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies

California Aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia)
(c) Asa Spade, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Asa Spade · CC BY-NC · via iNaturalist

California Aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,892 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.

Nationally it blooms mainly from July to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.

When to photograph California Aster: observations by month (U.S.)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

About California Aster

Corethrogyne filaginifolia (syn. Lessingia filaginifolia) is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names common sandaster and California aster.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

California Aster by state

StateObservationsPeak monthMain season
California1,888AugustJul–Oct

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)

Photography tips

  • Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
  • Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
  • Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
  • Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph California Aster?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to October.
Where is California Aster most often seen?
The most observations come from California.