Identification
This native perennial has a many-branched stem 1-3 feet tall. The alternate lower leaves, which are typically shed before flowering, can be up to 3 inches long. Upper stems are very leafy and the leaves much smaller, quite narrow and pointed, usually less than 1 inch long and 1/8th inch wide (C). Many small white flowers under 1/2 inch in diameter often cover the upper branches (A). Each flower has 10-20 ray florets surrounding the yellow disk florets which turn purplish as they mature (B). Both disk and ray florets are fertile, a characteristic it shares with other members of this genus.
Found in drier upland sites, where it blooms in September and October. Heath Aster is uncommon in prairies at Neale Woods. It has not been seen recently at Fontenelle Forest.
The small flowers and small, narrow upper leaves of Heath Aster are fairly distinctive, making it one of the easiest asters to identify in this large, very difficult genus of look-alikes and hybrids. One may find simply enjoying the fall colors more rewarding! Note that the multiple rows of green bracts at the base of the flower do provide a reliable way of separating this genus (Symphyotrichum) from the occasional late-flowering fleabane of the genus Erigeron, which has only a single row of bracts.
Heath Aster is one of our last plants to flower, a trait reflected in its other common names including White or Frost Aster and Farewell Summer.
The genus name for this plant was recently changed from Aster to Symphyotrichum; perhaps appropriate that plants which are a challenge to identify should have a name that is equally challenging to pronounce and spell!
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Neal Ratzlaff.