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Eurybia divaricata

Previously known as:

  • Aster corymbosus
  • Aster divaricatus
  • Eurybia divaricata
  • Symphyotrichum divaricatum
Phonetic Spelling
yoor-RIB-ee-uh dy-vair-ih-KAY-tus
Description

Woodland aster, is a native herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family.  Native to the Eastern United States this wildlfower typically grows in dry open woodlands, primarily in Appalachian mountain areas.

Woodland aster can grow to a mounding height of 3 feet and spread vigorously by rhizomes reaching its full growth in 2 to 5 years. It prefers partial shade with 3-4 hrs of sun daily in average, medium to dry well-drained soils. It is shade, deer, and drought tolerant. Shearing the plant to 6 inches in early summer produces a more compact plant. Propagate this plant by division in the spring.

The showy white flowers appear in clusters dancing above the heart shaped leaves in late summer to fall and are a favorite of bees and butterflies. The seeds that follow the flower are eaten by birds and small mammals and provide a valuable fall and winter food source.  The center of the flowers (disk flowers) change from yellow to red upon pollination.

Use this plant in open shade gardens, woodland areas, native, pollintor, or cottage gardens. It is a tough native plant that blooms in the shade, and that can be hard to find!.

This plant was selected as the 2008 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has some susceptibility to powdery mildew so give it good air circulation. Aster wilt can also be an occasional problem, particularly if plants are grown in poorly-drained clay soils. mproving drainage and good air circulation helps reduce the incidence of foliar diseases.

 

VIDEO: Part of the Native Plant Picks series from the North Carolina Sea Grant led Coastal Landscapes Initiative.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Fiesta'
    Variegated leaves and lavender flowers
  • 'Raiche Form'
    Larger white flowers
  • 'Snow Heron'
    Variegated leaves and white flowers
'Fiesta', 'Raiche Form', 'Snow Heron'
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#fast growing#highly beneficial coastal plants#fire medium flammability#NC native#deer resistant#pollinator plant#native wildflower#wildflower garden#larval host plant#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#flowers late summer#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#flowers early fall#partial shade tolerant#shade flowers#flowers mid-fall#Audubon#NC Wildflower of the Year#coastal plant#food source winter#pollinator garden#herb garden#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Fiesta'
    Variegated leaves and lavender flowers
  • 'Raiche Form'
    Larger white flowers
  • 'Snow Heron'
    Variegated leaves and white flowers
'Fiesta', 'Raiche Form', 'Snow Heron'
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#fast growing#highly beneficial coastal plants#fire medium flammability#NC native#deer resistant#pollinator plant#native wildflower#wildflower garden#larval host plant#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#flowers late summer#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#flowers early fall#partial shade tolerant#shade flowers#flowers mid-fall#Audubon#NC Wildflower of the Year#coastal plant#food source winter#pollinator garden#herb garden#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Eurybia
    Species:
    divaricata
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern Canada and United States
    Fire Risk Rating:
    medium flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    Notable for attracting wildlife. Seeds edible by birds and small mammals. Host plant for the Pearl Crescent butterfly. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herb
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    Oval brown achenes with stiff bristle hairs. Displays from September to November.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Bracts
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small but abundant flowers with white rays and yellow disk centers that change to red upon pollination that appear in flat-topped, terminal clusters with 6-10 white petals. Its bracts are whitish with green tips. Flowers are 1/2 to 1 inch across. Blooms earlier than most Asters, from August to October.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The basal leaves are ovate with cordate bases (heart-shaped) up to 2.5 inches long 2 inches wide. They wither when the plant blooms. The lower stem leaves are up to 8 inches long with either cordate or rounded bases. The upper leaves are sessile and oval to lance-shaped. They all have serrated margins. Undersides of the leaves have hairs.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Zig Zags
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    zigzag stems up to 2.5' tall are green to reddish.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heavy Shade
    Poor Soil