Willamette daisy (Erigeron decumbens) is one of our rarest Willamette Valley prairie species, and is federally recognized as endangered. It’s the only species of Erigeron with pink-purple flowers occurring in Willamette Valley prairies. Similar-looking Hall’s aster (Symphyotrichum hallii) co-occurs with Willamette daisy, but has red stems and white to pale-violet flowers.
This species struggles for survival due to loss of habitat and reproductive challenges. Willamette daisy flowers often produce very small quantities of viable seed, which can be a barrier to natural population growth and successful propagation in the greenhouse. There are only a few natural populations remaining, hanging on at some of the Willamette Valley’s prairie habitat remnants. Approximately 50 known populations remain. However, once seedlings are established and outplanted in suitable habitat, survival rates are relatively high, so we have high hopes for the plants at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge.
