Klickitat Aster
Eucephalus glaucescens
Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens

Klickitat aster as seen along the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 about one mile west of Big Huckleberry Mountain, Gifford Pinchot National Forest........September 4, 2016.
Photo
at right of the involucre of Klickitat aster from the eastern edge of the Big
Lava Bed south of South Prairie, Gifford Pinchot N.F..........late August,
2001.
Characteristics:
Klickitat aster is a pretty aster with erect, often solitary
stems arising from 40-150 cm high. The stems and leaves lack hairs or glands
and tend to be a glaucous blue-green color. The lowest leaves are very reduced
in size while the leaves of mid- to upper stem are either linear in shape and
sessile or narrowly lance-elliptic in shape with very short petioles. They range
from 3.5-9 cm long and 4-15 mm wide with mostly entire margins. The leaves tend
to be 5-12 times longer than wide.
The flower heads are several to many with the individual involucres
7-9 mm high. The bracts are narrow, pointed and have a strong midvein which
is somewhat keeled. The bracts are greenish at the tips or the margins have
a narrow band of purplish coloration. The 8-13 rays are 12-20 mm long and a
light purple color.
Habitat:
Klickitat aster is a wildflower of open woods and slopes.
Range:
Aster glaucescens is found in Washington state from Mt.
Adams south to the Columbia River
In the Columbia River gorge, it may be found between the elevations
of 600'-4000' between the Wind and White Salmon Rivers.
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Klickitat aster observed fading out of bloom atop Little Huckleberry Mountain, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.......September 11, 2021.
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Klickitat aster blooming in the Indian Heaven Wilderness, Skamania County, WA.....August 28, 2025.
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Klickitat aster observed along the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 about one-third of a mile west of Big Huckleberry Mountain, Gifford Pinchot National Forest......June 23, 2024.

Glaucous blue-green leaves of Klickitat aster..........late August,
2001.
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Klickitat aster from the eastern edge of the
big lava bed south of South Prairie, Gifford Pinchot N.F.........late
August, 2001.
Paul Slichter