Brandegee’s Tansyaster: A Rare Colorado Native Worth Protecting
Meet Brandegee’s tansyaster (Machaeranthera coloradoensis var. brandegeei), one of Colorado’s most elusive native wildflowers. This perennial forb might not be a household name in gardening circles, but it represents something truly special in the world of native plants – a genuine Colorado endemic that deserves our attention and protection.
What Makes This Plant Special?
Brandegee’s tansyaster belongs to that fascinating group of plants we call forbs – essentially, non-woody flowering plants that add color and diversity to natural landscapes. As a perennial, this hardy little plant returns year after year, though finding it in the wild requires some serious botanical detective work.
What truly sets this plant apart is its incredible rarity. With a Global Conservation Status of S3T2?, Brandegee’s tansyaster is considered quite rare and poorly understood – the question mark in its status indicates that scientists need more information to fully assess its conservation needs.
A True Colorado Native
This tansyaster variety calls Colorado home and nowhere else. It’s what botanists call an endemic species – a plant that evolved in one specific region and can’t be found naturally anywhere else on Earth. For Colorado gardeners, that makes it a true local treasure.
- Species observed
- No observations
Should You Grow Brandegee’s Tansyaster?
Here’s where things get a bit complicated. While supporting native plants is always admirable, Brandegee’s tansyaster’s rarity status means you need to be extra thoughtful about how you approach growing it.
The responsible approach:
- Only source plants or seeds from reputable native plant nurseries that can guarantee ethical collection practices
- Never collect plants or seeds from wild populations
- Consider this plant only if you’re committed to native plant conservation
- Connect with local botanical societies or native plant groups for guidance
Growing Conditions and Care
Unfortunately, specific growing information for this rare variety is limited. As a Colorado native forb, it likely adapted to the state’s challenging mountain and high plains conditions – think intense sun, dramatic temperature swings, and well-draining soils.
If you’re lucky enough to source this plant responsibly, treat it like you would other Colorado natives:
- Provide excellent drainage
- Expect it to prefer lean soils over rich garden soil
- Give it plenty of sunshine
- Be patient – rare natives often establish slowly
Alternative Colorado Natives to Consider
While you’re searching for responsible sources of Brandegee’s tansyaster (or if you decide it’s too rare to risk), consider these other beautiful Colorado natives that are more readily available:
- Purple Prairie Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides)
- Rocky Mountain Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides var. pansum)
- Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
The Bigger Picture
Sometimes the most important thing we can do for a rare plant isn’t growing it in our gardens – it’s protecting the wild places where it still exists. If you’re passionate about Brandegee’s tansyaster, consider supporting Colorado’s natural areas, participating in citizen science projects, or volunteering with organizations that protect native plant habitats.
After all, the best way to ensure future generations can appreciate this rare Colorado gem is to keep its wild populations thriving in their natural homes.