• Symphyotrichum ericoides

    Heath aster

Symphyotrichum ericoides

Heath aster Description:

Symphyotrichum ericoides, commonly known as heath aster, is a wildflower species that is native to North America. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, also known as the aster family, and is a member of a large and diverse group of flowering plants that includes sunflowers, daisies, and asters. This plant is typically found in open fields, prairies, and along roadsides, and is characterized by its small, white flowers that bloom in late summer and early fall. The plant typically grows to be between one and three feet tall and is well-adapted to a variety of soil and moisture conditions.


In addition to its aesthetic qualities, Symphyotrichum ericoides is also ecologically important. As a member of the aster family, it provides important nectar and pollen resources for a variety of insect species, including bees, butterflies, and moths. It is also an important food source for many species of birds and mammals, and serves as a host plant for several species of butterfly larvae. Furthermore, this plant has been used for medicinal purposes by indigenous peoples, with the roots and leaves being used to treat a variety of ailments, including coughs, fevers, and skin conditions. 

Native Range:

Heath aster can be found in most of the continental United States with the exceptions of California, Nevada, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Florida.

Standard Plant Information:

Plant Height: 1' - 3' 

Bloom Time: August - October

Preferred Habitat: Does well in part shade to full sun in dry sandy or rocky soil. Often found in prairies, savannas, dunes, woodland edges, bluffs, outcrops, and roadsides.

Sowing:

For most homeowners, the best option is to scatter seed on the ground by hand broadcasting at a minimum of 16-64 pls ounces per acre.  For even coverage, we recommend that you broadcast seed in perpendicular rows across the site to ensure even coverage.


You’ll want to broadcast any grass seed first, which will get raked into the soil lightly. Next, it is ideal to mulch the area lightly with either a clean (no seed) straw or preferably with our native Little Bluestem straw, sold at our retail garden centers. After a light mulching is complete, now it’s time to broadcast your native wildflower seeds, which should not be raked into the soil. A good rain or watering is sufficient to cover the seed.

Planting:

Simply dig a hole in the soil slightly larger than the plant’s roots. Ensure that the soil line of the plant is maintained during the transfer (i.e. the plant should be at the same level with the ground as it was in the pot). Pack any loose dirt back around the plant and make sure you water it well the same day to ensure it has the best chance of survival.

maps used with permission from MN Wildflowers

Symphyotrichum ericoides Gallery

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