Stiff Aster Ionactis linariifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- eye-OHN-ak-tiss lin-air-ee-ah-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
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Stiff Aster is a native perennial in the aster family ( Asteraceae) and is native to eastern and central USA including NC. It grows in short clumps and can be found in dry clearings and rocky banks but also in mixed woods of hickory, pine, and oak.
The ray flowers appear in late summer to fall and can be of various colors but are often white or bluish-purple with yellow centers. The leaves are stiff and needle-like and the stems can be erect to sprawling.
This plant prefers sandy to rocky acidic well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Use this attractive plant in the border, in a rock garden or mass-planted.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Root rot will occur in wet soils
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ionactis
- Species:
- linariifolia
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- naturalizing, rock gardens, perennial border
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central USA and Canada
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , QC
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts many pollinators as bees and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 8 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Small oval achenes with a tuft of hair
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Petals are purples, pinks or white and surround a yellow center of disc flowers. There are 10- 20 rays. They are about 1 inch across and bloom singly or in small clusters. Blooms late summer into fall
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The densely packed alternate and sessile leaves are 3/4 to 1.5 inches long and very narrow with one central vein. They appear to be whorled.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Poor Soil
