Awl Aster, Hairy White Oldfield Aster, Frost Aster, White Heath Aster, Downy Aster, Aster pilosus
Providing a good display in the late season garden, Symphyotrichum pilosum (Hairy Aster) is a robust herbaceous perennial boasting numerous branched stems smothered by sprays of tiny star-like white flowers in late summer and fall. Rising from the stem tops and upper leaf axils, each blossom features 15-35 white rays surrounding a center disc packed with pale yellow disc flowers. The disk flowers change from yellow to reddish with age. Blooming for 4-6 weeks, the flowers are followed by a dry seed (achene) that matures in late fall and is distributed to new locations by wind. The stems are clad with alternate, lance-shaped leaves, 1-4 in. long (2-10 cm), with a smooth margin. Green above and gray below, they significantly decrease in size as they ascend the stems. After flowering, basal leaf rosettes appear and persist over winter. Both the stem and leaves are covered with fine hairs. Native to upland prairies, weedy meadows, pastures, open woodlands of North America, Hairy Aster is easy to grow, low maintenance and is not affected by any serious pests or diseases. It is, however weedy in most of the eastern U.S. and may not be suitable for small gardens due to its tendency to readily spread by seed. Hairy Aster grows well in dry conditions and in rocky or sandy soils. It is an important nectar and pollen source for many insects in the fall.
Hardiness |
4 - 8 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Compositae |
Genus | Aster |
Common names | Frost Aster, Aster |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Summer (Late), Fall |
Height | 2' - 4' (60cm - 120cm) |
Spread | 2' - 4' (60cm - 120cm) |
Spacing | 36" - 48" (90cm - 120cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Midwest, Missouri, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma |
Tolerance | Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
Hardiness |
4 - 8 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Compositae |
Genus | Aster |
Common names | Frost Aster, Aster |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Summer (Late), Fall |
Height | 2' - 4' (60cm - 120cm) |
Spread | 2' - 4' (60cm - 120cm) |
Spacing | 36" - 48" (90cm - 120cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Midwest, Missouri, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma |
Tolerance | Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Symphyotrichum pilosum (Hairy Aster) do I need for my garden?
Plant | Quantity | |
---|---|---|
Symphyotrichum pilosum (Hairy Aster) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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