Stiff aster is a native perennial in the aster family (Asteraceae), native to eastern and central USA, including NC. It grows in short clumps 1 to 2 feet tall and up to 1 foot wide and can be found in dry clearings and rocky banks but also in mixed woods of hickory, pine, and oak. The specific epithet means with leaves like the genus Linaria This plant prefers sandy to rocky, acidic, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It can be propagated from seeds. The ray flowers appear in late summer to fall and can be of various colors but are often white or bluish-purple with yellow centers. The leaves are stiff and needle-like and the stems can be erect to sprawling. Use stiff aster in a naturalized area or in the border of a pollinator, native, rock or drought-tolerant garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Root rot will occur in wet soils
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The densely packed alternate and sessile leaves are 3/4 to 1.5 inches long and very narrow with a prominent central vein. They appear to be whorled. The undersurface is downy.
Flower color
Blue; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Good Cut
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Petals are purples, pinks or white and surround a yellow center of disc flowers. There are 10- 20 rays. They are .75 to 1.25 inches across and bloom singly or in small clusters. Blooms late summer into fall
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
Small oval achenes with a tuft of hair
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The stemscan be erect, ascending, or sprawling. The color varies from light green, tan or reddish brown. They are terete, and canescent. They are round and have downy hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern and central USA and Canada
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , QC
Wildlife value
Attracts many pollinators as bees and butterflies.