blue fleabane
Erigeron acer
Erigeron acris is a widespread species of herbaceous flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Common names include bitter fleabane and blue fleabane.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erigeron_acris
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asterales
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Erigeron
blue fleabane belongs to the family Asteraceae, order Asterales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Erigeron acris is a widespread species of herbaceous flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Common names include bitter fleabane and blue fleabane. The species is native to Canada, colder parts of the United States, northern, central, and southeastern Asia, and most of Europe.
Blue fleabane faces significant pressure from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urban development across its native range. The species' specialized requirements for calcareous grasslands and open habitats make it particularly vulnerable to land use changes and the abandonment of traditional grazing practices that historically maintained suitable conditions.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Blue fleabane typically occurs in dry, calcareous grasslands, chalk downs, limestone pavements, and rocky slopes, often in areas with thin soils and low nutrient availability. The species also colonizes disturbed ground, quarries, and roadside verges where similar open, well-drained conditions exist.
Threats
Agricultural intensification and conversion of grasslands
Urban and infrastructure development
Abandonment of traditional grazing practices
Competition from invasive plant species
Habitat fragmentation
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). blue fleabane (Erigeron acer). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/blue-fleabane