Tundra aster
Oreostemma alpigenum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Toxicity unknown
Tundra aster (Oreostemma alpigenum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
3"–8" H × 6"–10" W
Bloom
Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
CA, ID, NV, OR and 2 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
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A very low, cushion-forming perennial with narrow grass-like leaves and single lavender-purple daisy flowers held just above the foliage. It grows in tight, tidy clumps in wet high-mountain meadows.
Wildlife value
Its late-summer flowers are a nectar source for native bees and butterflies at high elevation, where bloom windows are short.
Common questions
- How much sun does Tundra aster need?
- Tundra aster grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Tundra aster bloom?
- Tundra aster blooms in July, August, and September.
- Where is Tundra aster native?
- Tundra aster (Oreostemma alpigenum) is native to CA, ID, NV, OR and 2 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does Tundra aster attract?
- Tundra aster draws bees and butterflies.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Tundra aster? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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