Daisy Fleabane

This native annual or biennial plant is erect and up to 3' tall. It is largely unbranched, except for a few side stems near the inflorescence at the apex. The ridged central stem has spreading white hairs near the base, but these hairs become short and appressed along its middle and upper portions. The alternate leaves are up to 4" long and 2/3" across, becoming smaller and more sparsely distributed as they ascend the stems. They are usually oblanceolate (shaped like a narrow spoon), narrowly ovate, or linear. Some of the larger leaves may have a few coarse teeth toward their outer tips. The base of each leaf narrows gradually to a slender petiole-like base. The upper stems terminate in small clusters of daisy-like compound flowers and their buds. The buds have appressed fine hairs that are difficult to see. The compound flowers are about ½" across, consisting of about 40-100 ray florets that surround numerous disk florets. The tiny disk florets are yellow, while the ray florets are usually white (sometimes light violet or pink). The blooming period occurs primarily from late spring to mid-summer, and lasts about 1-2 months. However, some plants may bloom later in the year until the early fall. The flowers may have a mild fragrance. Both the ray and disk florets can set fertile seed without cross-pollination. The small achenes enclosing the seeds have small bristles or white hairs that promote distribution of the seeds by wind. The root system consists of a taproot. This plant spreads by re-seeding itself, and often forms loose colonies.