White Heath Aster

(Symphyotrichum ericoides)

White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides)

davecz2

CC BY-SA 4.0

Image By: davecz2

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Copyright Notice: Photo by: davecz2 | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 | Uploader: Hyperik | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Symphyotrichum_ericoides_Green_Lake_County,_WI_flower_close-up.jpg | Notes: {{Information |description={{en|Ontario Aster (''Symphyotrichum ontarionis'')}} |date=2017-09-21 |source=https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/10666783 |author=[https://www.inaturalist.org/users/446887 davecz2] |permission= |other ver

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Symphyotrichum ericoides, commonly known as White Heath Aster, is a deciduous perennial herb native to a variety of habitats including prairies, dry open woods, and rocky slopes in the United States and southern Canada.. It typically grows to a height of 30 to 91 centimeters (1 to 3 feet) with a bushy, branched form. The leaves are sessile, linear to lanceolate, and progressively smaller up the stem. From late summer to fall, it produces numerous daisy-like flower heads with white ray florets surrounding yellow central disks, each head measuring 8 to 10 millimeters across. The flowers are quite showy and attract a variety of pollinators.

White Heath Aster is valued for its late-season blooms and ability to thrive in poor soils, making it a popular choice for wildflower gardens, naturalized areas, and restoration projects. It is drought-tolerant once established and can handle a range of soil types, although it prefers well-drained conditions. Full sun is ideal for optimal flowering, but it can tolerate light shade. While it is not known for major diseases or pests, powdery mildew can sometimes be an issue in humid conditions. This species can be aggressive in garden settings, spreading by rhizomes and self-seeding, which should be considered when planting.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 1-3 feet
Width: 1-1.5 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: White
Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun
Water: Low, Medium
Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

native to a variety of habitats including prairies, dry open woods, and rocky slopes in the United States and southern Canada

Other Names

Common Names: Heath Aster, Frost Aster, Aster Éricoïde, Ljungaster

Scientific Names: , Symphyotrichum ericoides, Aster ericoides, Symphyotrichum ericoides subsp. ericoides, Aster pilosus, Aster tenuifolius, Aster pauciflorus, Aster multiflorus, Symphyotrichum ericoides var. prostratum, Virgulus ericoides

GBIF Accepted Name: Symphyotrichum ericoides (L.) G.L.Nesom