Symphyotrichum boreale, commonly known as Rush Aster or Northern Bog Aster, is a perennial herb that is native to a variety of wetland habitats including fens, marshes, and wet meadows in northern North America, from Alaska to Newfoundland and extending south to Colorado and West Virginia. It typically grows to a height of 5-33 inches (13-84 cm) and features a clumping habit with narrow, lance-shaped leaves. The Rush Aster blooms from late summer to early fall, producing clusters of daisy-like flowers with white to pale purple ray florets surrounding cream to pale yellow disk florets, which are attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

This species is valued for its ability to thrive in wet, calcareous conditions and is often used in native plant gardens, rain gardens, and for naturalizing in moist areas. It requires consistently moist to wet soil and full sun to part shade. While it is not commonly known for aggressive growth, its rhizomatous nature allows it to spread and fill in areas, making it useful for erosion control. Gardeners should be aware that in optimal conditions, it may spread more than desired. It is relatively low maintenance but can be susceptible to powdery mildew in crowded or poor air circulation conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0