Heath aster is a perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy) family native to North America. The genus name Symphyotrichum comes from the Greek word " symph" which means come together and " trich" or hair in reference to the hairy looking flower anthers. The speices ericoides refers to this plants resemblece to a plant from the Erica or heather genus. Specific epithet means resembling the family Ericaceae (heather).In its native habitat is found growing in dry thickets, roadsides, clearings, and fields. It grows to a height of 18 inches to 3 feet tall and 1 foot to 18 inches wide depending on wind and the dryness of growing conditions. Plant in the full sun with medium to dry well-drained soils. It tolerates a wide range of soils including shallow and rocky, heavy clay, and poor soils. Once established it is tolerant of drought and deer browsing. This species is resistant to mildew. Cut back hard in the early spring to improve appearance. The profuse showy white daisy-like flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies nd provide much needed late season nectar as they bloom from late summer to mid fall. It is effective for erosion mitigation in sloped areas. Use it in the front of a border in a cut flower, rock, or wildflower garden, or let this plant naturalize but be sure to provide plenty of room. Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Tall plants may need staking. More information on Symphyotrichum .
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)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear; Oblong; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth; Velvety
Leaf value
Good Cut
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Hairy or smooth, narrow or lance shaped, stalkless, 1-3 in. leaves; limited or no teeth. Resemble heather leaves.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head; Raceme
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
.75-in. flower head; 15-25 white to pale purplish petals; yellow center on one sided racems. Blooms from late summer to mid fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green
Stem detail
Several slender branches which are ascending or stiffly spreading
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Canada, northern central U.S.A., to Mexico
Wildlife value
Flowers are attractive to butterflies. 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.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Specialized Bees
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#fire medium flammability #pollinator plant #border front #flowers early fall #erosion control #flowers mid-fall #showy flowers #cutting garden #flowers late summer #white flowers #specialized bees #deer resistant #roadside #rocky soils tolerant #low maintenance #drought tolerant #disease resistant #slopes #butterfly friendly #bee friendly #wildflower #poor soil tolerant #thicket #moth friendly