Family

Asteraceae

Description

Heath aster is a fine-textured, late-season native that covers itself in small white flowers just as many other perennials begin to decline. Its wiry stems and needle-like leaves give it a light, airy presence early in the season, while its ability to handle lean soils and full sun make it a reliable performer in dry meadows and naturalistic borders. Left uncut, the plant develops a shrubby silhouette that persists into winter, often used in seedhead-focused plantings.

 

Native to prairies, glades, and open ground across central and eastern North America, S. ericoides thrives in well-drained soils and full sun, spreading slowly by rhizomes. It supports a wide range of native pollinators in late summer and fall, when floral resources are scarce.

Bloom Time

September to October