Narrowleaf Whitetop Aster Sericocarpus linifolius
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aster solidagineus
- Phonetic Spelling
- ser'i-ko-kār'pus lin-ih-FOH-lee-us
- Description
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Narrowleaf whitetop aster is a native wildflower that blooms all summer into fall. It grows in dry woodlands and barrens, clearings and meadows in dry to moist sandy, clay ang gravelly soils. It grows erect with a flat-topped cluster of small white ray flowers surrounding the tubular disc flowers. As the name suggests, the leaves are very narrow. It will grow up to 2 feet tall and form clumps up to 10 inches wide. It is drought tolerant, low maintenance and attracts pollinators.
Plant in full to partial sun in any well-drained soil. It has a tidy growth habit so will work well in a pollinator garden in the front to middle of the border. It can also be used in a meadow or naturalized setting.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sericocarpus
- Species:
- linifolius
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern to mid west USA
- Distribution:
- AL , CT , DC , DE , GA , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , WV
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The achene has a pappus of white bristles
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White ray flowers surround the tubular center disc flowers July to Oct. Each flower head consists of 5 to 15 disk flowers and 2 to 6 ray flowers and occur in flat-topped clusters
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are, simple, alternate, sessile and very slender, 1-2 inches long. Basal leaves wither by bloom time.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Upright green smooth stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
