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Acuminate Aster Oclemena acuminata

Previously known as:

  • Aster acuminatus
Phonetic Spelling
OCK-la-men-ah ah-kew-min-NAH-ta
Description

Whirled Wood Aster is a native wildflower found in the mountains of NC and from eastern Canada south to Georgia. It spreads by underground runners to form colonies and prefers cool wooded locations.

It is fairly shade-tolerant but blooms best in sun. It prefers well-drained acidic soils but will tolerate wetter ones. Use in an open woodland native garden in full sun to partial shade to add late summer to fall color.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#slopes#fall interest#NC native#summer flowers#native wildflower#NC Native Pollinator Plant#partial shade tolerant#wildflower#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#slopes#fall interest#NC native#summer flowers#native wildflower#NC Native Pollinator Plant#partial shade tolerant#wildflower#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Oclemena
    Species:
    acuminata
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    E. Canada to E. U.S.A.
    Distribution:
    CT, GA, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WV
    Wildlife Value:
    Bees will visit the flowers and some birds and small mammals will eat the seeds.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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 pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    Achenes with copious glands
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    1-1.5 inch composite flowers with 10-17 usually white but sometimes pinkish outer petals surrounding yellow or red disk flowers. It also has straw-colored bracts that are sharply pointed and layered. Blooms July-Oct.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    This plant usually has 10-20 leaves below the flower cluster. The leaves are coarsely toothed, alternately spiraled up the stem in such a way as to appear whorled and crowded near the top of the stem. They are lance-shaped or elliptic and long-pointed at both ends with one main vein running from the base to the tip. Undersides are sticky. They are 2.5 inches long and 3/4 inch wide.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Zig Zags
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Somewhat hairy stems are slightly zigzagged.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Small Mammals