Description
Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides), also known as White Heath Aster, is a hardy prairie native that bursts into bloom in late summer and fall with masses of small white flowers, sometimes tinged with pale blue or pink and centered with yellow. The blooms cover the stems and provide an important late-season nectar source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, including serving as a host plant for the Pearl Crescent butterfly.
This adaptable species thrives in full sun and prefers dry to medium soils. It spreads by rhizomes and readily self-seeds, forming colonies that can expand a foot or more per year, making it an excellent choice for prairie plantings, naturalized areas, and low-maintenance landscapes. Because of its vigorous growth, some may consider it aggressive in smaller gardens.
Heath Aster is very easy to grow across a wide range of conditions. In more open areas, it may lean or sprawl without nearby plants for support, but that relaxed habit is part of its character.
