Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) vs. Oakleaf Fleabane (Erigeron quercifolius)

These two species can be confused in their relatively narrow range of overlap. Both are found on moist sites, both tend to have a dense rosette of basal leaves of roughly similar size, and both have narrower, more numerous rays than other fleabanes. Because many of the characteristics used to distinguish these species have significant variation from plant to plant, and overlap between the two species, it is important to look at multiple features before making an ID. E. philadelphicus ranges much farther north and west, and prefers richer, finer-textured soils, whereas E. quercifolius is restricted to the southeastern coastal plain, ranges farther southeast, through all of peninsular Florida, and prefers sandy soils.

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