Bushy Aster Symphyotrichum dumosum

Bushy aster is a native perennial wildflower in the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to eastern and central North America, Haiti and the Dominican Republic and found along roadsides, prairies, wetlands and sandhills. The plants can be variable in appearance depending on the area and there are several subspecies. The Genus name comes from the Greek symph, which means "coming together," and trichum, which means "hair. The specific epithet is Latin for "full of thornbushes" and "bushy".

The plant will grow up to 3+ feet tall and 1.6 feet wide when blooming. They prefer full sun to partial shade in dry to moist well-drained sandy soils. Propagation is by seed or division. The plant spreads by rhizomes.

Bushy aster blooms in late summer through fall or later depending on the growing zone on 1 to 3-foot stems that are erect to sprawling. The flowers occur in airy clusters of white, pale blue or pale pink ray florets surrounding a center of yellow disc flowers. The lower leaves are in a basal rosette and alternate leaves are on the flowering stems. Achenes follow the flowers with tufts of white hair on the seed for wind dispersal.

This plant is appropriate for the home garden and does well in a mixed native perennial border or groups. It provides late-season flowers for pollinators.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:   Deer browsing, powdery mildew, and leaf spot can occur.