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Asteraceae
Heath Aster
Symphyotrichum ericoides
Abundance in the fading light of autumn.
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Symphyotrichum
- Native to
- North America
- Bloom season
- Late Summer, Fall
- Type
- herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 30–90 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, dry to medium
- Water
- low; drought-tolerant
- Hardiness
- 3–9
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- A single heath aster plant can produce thousands of tiny flower heads, creating clouds of white in fall prairies.
- The species name 'ericoides' means heather-like, describing the small narrow leaves along the stems.
- Heath asters are among the last wildflowers blooming in North American prairies, feeding migrating monarchs.
- Native Americans used root tea to treat fevers and used the smoke of dried plants in sweat lodge ceremonies.
- It was recently reclassified from Aster to Symphyotrichum after DNA studies reorganized New World asters.
Color meanings
0
patience
1
abundance
2
farewell to summer