Heath Aster Aster ericoides
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Heath Aster:
Previously known as:
- Symphyotrichum ericoides
- Phonetic Spelling
- ASS-ter er-ik-OY-dees
- Description
-
White Heath Aster is an herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae or Aster family and native to North America. Typically found growing in dry open areas, this plant needs about 1 to 3 feet of space in the landscape.
The plentiful tiny, rigid, heath-like leaves make for a dense multi-stemmed habit. From summer into the fall the plant is covered with tiny white many-petaled composite flowers giving some late-season interest to the garden. The flowers are visited by moths, butterflies, and other pollinators, and birds and mammals enjoy eating the seeds and foliage making it an all-star wildlife plant.
Plant in full sun in moist to dry, well-drained sandy to loamy or rocky soil. Once established the plant is more drought-tolerant.
White heath aster is low maintenance and makes a perfect addition to a border in a pollinator or butterfly garden. The flowers are showy and can be enjoyed in a cut flower garden, cottage garden, or xeriscape planting. Mass plant it along a walkway, plant in small groups along the edges of a woodland garden, or use it as an accent in a rock garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'First Snow'
Tiny white star-like flowers, arching/prostrate stems - 'Snow Flurry'
White flowers with yellow centers, prostrate growth
- 'First Snow'
- 'First Snow', 'Snow Flurry'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'First Snow'
Tiny white star-like flowers, arching/prostrate stems - 'Snow Flurry'
White flowers with yellow centers, prostrate growth
- 'First Snow'
- 'First Snow', 'Snow Flurry'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aster
- Species:
- ericoides
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Eastern United States, Canada to Mexico
- Distribution:
- Native: Canada--Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territory, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan; Mexico--Mexico Gulf and Mexico Northeast; USA--AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA RI, SD, TX UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY; Introduced: Bulgaria, France, Great Britain, Hungry, and Italy;
- Wildlife Value:
- The plant attracts butterflies, moths, skippers, bees, flies, and beetles. Deer, rabbits and some livestock may feed on the young growth of the plants. Wild Turkeys may eat the seeds and foliage.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- The seeds have tufts of white hairs. The wind disperses the seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are daisy-like and numerous. Each flower is less than 0.5 inches in diameter. The flower consists of numerous yellow to occasionally burgandy disk florets that are surrounded by thin white rays. Needle-like green bracts appear on the flowers stems.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves measure up to 3 inches long and 1/4 inch at the base of the leaf. The leaves become less than 1 inch long and 1/8 inch long as they near the flowering stem. They appear alternately and are linear in shape. They have fine hairs, and the margins are smooth.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The erect stems may appear singularly or in multiples from the base of the plant. The young stems are green and hairy. The mature stems are woody and brown. The lower portion of the plant is unbranched. The upper portion appears bushy and heavily branched.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
