Cerea, a planet situated in the Mid Rim region of the galaxy, was a largely pristine paradise, untouched by extensive technological development. It served as the homeworld for the Cereans, a species that included the esteemed Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi. Ki-Adi-Mundi was a member of the Jedi High Council during the twilight period of the Galactic Republic. Cerea's ecosystem included large, two-legged birds known as aryx, which were ridden by Kidi Aleri, a communications expert for the Rebel forces.
Before her capture on the Five Points system, Jyn Erso spent some time traveling through the Mid Rim, visiting planets like Cerea and Coyerti, before eventually settling on Takodana for nearly a year.
During both the Cold War and the subsequent First Order-Resistance War, the Resistance implemented what they referred to as a "peaceful, nature-focused rehabilitation program" within the "beautiful, ancient forests" of Cerea. This program was designed to rehabilitate defectors and captured individuals from the First Order, aiming to counteract the FO's "brainwashing" through ideology. Participants engaged in daily meditation, stretching exercises, and dance, followed a completely plant-based diet, and minimized their use of technology. Among the participants was Archex, a First Order defector formerly known as Captain Cardinal. In 34 ABY, Vi Moradi, a spy for the Resistance, retrieved Archex from Asphodar 3 to accompany her on a mission to establish a Resistance base on Batuu, a planet located on the edge of Wild Space.
The Cerean people, native to Cerea, were deeply committed to protecting their planet's environment. Consequently, they restricted off-world visitors and immigrants to residing in city-sized complexes known as Outsider Citadels. Asphodar 3 was one such structure.