Oldfield Aster Symphyotrichum pilosum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sim-fy-oh-TRY-kum pil-OH-sum
- Description
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Frost aster is a native herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family that may grow up to 4 feet tall and wide. One of its common names old field aster comes from its tendency to grow rapidly in disturbed sites.
Frost aster prefers full sun and grows well in wet or dry conditions and in rocky or sandy soils.
The leaves are alternate with a smooth margin. Both the stem and leaves are covered with fine hairs. The roots are fibrous and form a woody crown. Showy delicate, white flowers daisy-ike with a yellow center first mature in late summer and persist into late fall providing a seed source to song birds over the winter.
Because this plant attracts polliantors like butterflies and bees, and the seeds provide a food source for birds and small mammals through the fall and winter this plant makes an exellent addtion to a pollinator or winter garden.
Seasons of Interest:
Blooms: Late Summer/Fall; Fruit/Seed/Nut: Winter
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Asters can have some susceptibility to powdery mildew and aster wilt. Poorly-drained clay soils and poor air circulation can contribute to this. Improving drainage and good air circulation helps reduce the incidence of foliar diseases. It is considered weedy in most of the eastern U.S.
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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Symphyotrichum
- Species:
- pilosum
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Host plant for the Pearl Crescent butterfly. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Songbirds and small mammals eat the seeds. Members of the genus Symphyotrichum support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteris, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteroides, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) hirticincta, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) nubecula, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) placata, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) simplex, and Colletes simulans.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Moderately deer resistant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Dry seed (achene) matures in late fall and persists in the winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, white daisy-like flowers 1/2"-3/4" wide cover the top of the plant on the end of stems. Blooms appear late September through November on 4-foot stems. Yellow disk flowers are surrounded by 16-25 white ray flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate with a smooth margin green above gray below, hairy on the edges and petioles.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Erect, many branches, smooth or with long soft hairs
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy