The Alpine Aster is a widespread wildflower often found in drier meadows and stony slopes common in the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park.
This flower is easily distinguished by a single flower head per stem, with a few small, narrow leaves along the stem. Aster alpinus (Alpine aster is an ornamental plant native to the mountains of Europe (including the Alps), with a subspecies native to Canada and the United States. It is a perennial forb having purple, pink or blue flowers belonging to the genus Aster. For additional information on wildflower viewing in the Mount Rainier region click here.
Flower Family: Sunflower
Scientific Name: Aster alpigenus
Usual Color: Blue-purple