Summary ²

Symphyotrichum ericoides (syn. Aster ericoides), known as white heath aster, white aster or heath aster, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to much of North America. It has also been introduced to many areas beyond its native range.

Description ³

Family:
Asteraceae (Aster)

Height:
1 to 3 feet

Leaves:
Leaves are gray-green and linear in shape (up to 2” long and ¼” wide), with smooth edges and pointed tips. Uppermost leaves have a sharp, distinct point at their tips.

Flower:
Clusters of several small (up to ½” across), densely packed, daisy-like, white flowers with yellow centers.

Bloom time:
July-October

Nicknames:
White Heath Aster

Habitat:
Heath Aster grows best in partial to full sun, in soils that are dry to well-drained. It tolerates loamy, clay, sandy, and rocky soils, as well as soils with higher pH values. It is commonly found in prairies, savannas, open woodlands or woodland edges, dunes, bluffs, outcrops, roadsides, and a variety of other disturbed areas. It grows well on both high and low quality sites.

Wildlife Benefits:
The flowers and foliage are attractive to a wide variety of insect species. Seeds and foliage are a food source for birds, including turkeys, as well as deer, rabbits, and other small mammals.

Can I plant this in my garden?
This plant grows best in full sun and dry, nutrient poor soils, but will tolerate more fertile soils if they are well-drained. It may spread aggressively via rhizomes if given enough open space.

References
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/heath-aster
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/hth_asterx.htm
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/symphyotrichum-ericoides/

Range ³

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, all rights reserved, uploaded by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
2. Adapted by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphyotrichum_ericoides
3. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• OregonFlora.org
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

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