Click to read about the Erigeron genus.

Subalpine, alpine.  Meadows.  Summer.
El Diente Trail, July 22, 2004 and Pass Creek Trail, July 27, 2009.

Erigeron elatior has nodding, woolly, pink-tinged flower buds

and flowers with numerous very light lavender ray flowers.

The leaves and stems are also hairy but not nearly as hairy as the buds and underside of the flower head. The plant tends to grow in clusters making it very eye-catching.  Leaves are usually light green and broader at the base than at the tapering and pointed tip.

"Elatior" is from the Latin for "tall", for the plant often grows to two feet. Charles Parry collected this Erigeron in Colorado in 1861 and Asa Gray named it Erigeron grandiflorum variety elatius in 1862.  Edwin Greene gave it its present name in 1897.

Subalpine, alpine.  Meadows.  Summer.
Pass Creek Trail, July 27, 2009 and Navajo Lake Trail, August, 6, 2014.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Erigeron elatior