Flower profile

Wandering daisy

Erigeron peregrinus

Wandering daisy (Erigeron peregrinus) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states.

Native to Alaska

Wandering daisy is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

11states where USDA records it

583AK sightings*

604U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska

Quick look

Erigeron peregrinus is a North American species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae known by the common name wandering fleabane.
From Wikipedia's article Erigeron peregrinus, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 11 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Alaska. ^NatureServe
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 583 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #75 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in Alaska (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (39 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Alaska: No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Alaska.
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Erigeron speciosus (“Fleabane”), as toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records wandering daisy in 11 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Alaska counties with USDA records: Aleutians East, Aleutians West, Anchorage, Bethel, Chugach, Copper River, Denali, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, Sitka, Southeast Fairbanks, Yakutat.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Wandering daisy a medium shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.4 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance: Medium
Drought tolerance: Low
Moisture use: High
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium
Soil pH range: 6.4 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: -38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 80
Annual precipitation range: 12 to 20 inches
Minimum root depth: 8 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: bare root, seed, sprigs
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for ERPE3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 184 counties across 11 states; the most are in Colorado (24), Washington (23), Idaho (21).

Other Erigeron on Bloomipedia (4): Philadelphia fleabane, Seaside daisy, Daisy fleabane, Oakleaf fleabane.

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.

More Alaska flowers

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: June–September

Arctic butterbur

Petasites frigidus

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: May–July

Orange hawkweed

Pilosella aurantiaca

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in AK

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ERPE3.
iNaturalist, Erigeron peregrinus: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Erigeron peregrinus (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Erigeron peregrinus (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: Heather Mazzaccaro via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.