Symphyotrichum ericoides
The heath aster , Symphyotrichum ericoides , formerlyAster ericoides , is aboriginal to fundamental and easterly regions of the United States and Canada , where it is often spotted along the highway .
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One of many flowers inthe Asteraceae familythat also includes chamomile , Dahlia pinnata , and zinnias , S. ericoidesis beseem to cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 10 .
The plants give rise voluminous amount of tiny flowers from later summertime to fall . in the main white , there are also pinkish and gamey varieties .
You ’ll find a broad overview of aster flowers in ourmain originate guidebook . Additional guides dig into topics like item-by-item metal money , troubleshooting pest and diseases , and upkeep through the yr .
In this clause , we ’ll talk about maturate heathland asters in the home garden .
Here ’s what we ’ll cover :
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Grow
Cultivars to Select
Maintenance
Propagation
Pests and Disease
Best Uses
The heath aster , aka white heathland aster , is a wildflower with a shrubby ontogeny habit . It reach mature dimension of 12 to 36 inch magniloquent and 12 to 18 inches wide . It is bump in stony areas , crushed rock road and rail bed , and grassy prairies or “ heaths . ”
Common name(s):White heathland aster , snow snow flurry flower
Plant eccentric : Perennial bloom
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):3 - 10
aboriginal to : Central and easterly United States and Canada
Bloom time : Late summertime to fall
photograph : Full sunlight
Soil eccentric : fair to organically - rich , well draining
ground pH:5.1 - 6.8 , acidulent to slightly acidulent
Spacing : 12 - 18 inch
Planting depth:1/8 column inch ( semen ) , depth of tooth root ball ( transplantation )
Mature size:12 - 18 column inch spacious x 12 - 36 inches high
Water Needs : Moderate
Taxonomy
Order : Asterales
sept : Asteraceae
Genus : Symphyotrichum
metal money : Ericoides
Variety : Ericoides , pansum
cultivar : Blue Star , Pink Cloud , Snow Flurry
The stems branch and have sprays of composite flower that quantify half an inch or less in diameter . They consist of colorful rays surrounding a yellow plaza disc of floret . The yellow shade to reddish - dark-brown as the bloom disappearance .
The leaves are narrow , linear , and often slightly hairy . They are loosely green but may be bronze .
There are two roll in the hay variety :
name varieties may have slenderly dissimilar traits that make out them from the main specie , but not so much as to be altogether different species .
In this case , the rootstock deviate slightly , with thepansumvariety give birth a fleshier rootstock .
The heath aster has been misidentify for Pringle ’s aster , S. pilosumvar.pringlei , a white-hot character that is also sometimes called a heathland or frost aster .
The aromatic aster , S. oblongifolius , is a lavender coinage that ’s also unremarkably call a heath aster .
And another aster that flow under the heathland umbrella is the amethyst aster , Symphyotrichum×amethystinum . It results from the natural crossing of the heathland aster , S. ericoides , and theNew England coinage , S. nova - angliae , in the wild with no stock breeder treatment .
White heathland aster are rugged , adaptable flora that do n’t require for much but fork up an impressive cloud of tiny , daisy - like flowers in return .
Whether you ’re looking to naturalize a meadow , make full in a pollinator patch , or sum up some late - season interest to your repeated beds , heath aster are up to the task .
countenance ’s go over what you ’ll ask to do to aid them thrive :
Light
heathland asters love tobask in the Dominicus . These elusive perennial blossom best in full sunshine , where they incur at least six hr of direct light per day .
While they ’ll suffer a little shade , you ’ll notice a spectacular drop in the number of blooms if they are n’t getting enough light .
Aim for the sunniest spot in your garden to boost dense growth and a bounty of flowers .
Soil
These aster are n’t fussy . They can thrive in everything from sandy loam to corpse , though they choose loose , well - drain soil with an acidic to slightly acidic pH between 5.1 and 6.8 .
In fact , too - productive filth can cause them to maturate floppy and lush rather than summary and prime - heavy .
S. ericoidesexhibits an above - average tolerance of dry , rocky soil and remains as it live these weather in its native home ground
Temperature and Humidity
Adapted to a wide orbit of climates across North America , heath asters are dependably hardy in USDA zone 3 to 10 . They shrug off rut and dusty with equal ease .
While new plants appreciate a little protective cover from intense heat in their first season , established flora are resilient and do n’t need coddling .
When plant , retrieve to take mature dimensions into account . These plants are prone to fungous diseases , especially powdery mould , and pitiful airflow is one environmental condition that supports the activation of mold spore . spare moisture is another .
Water
Once established , whitened heathland asters are drought patient of .
During the first yr of growing , supervise the forecast for pelting . Supplement as needed to allow an in per week . Avoid oversaturation .
In years two and beyond , established plants demonstrate above - average drouth tolerance but still benefit from subsidiary watering during super hot and dry periods .
Fertilizer
Skip the fertilizer . Heath aster evolved to prosper in lean soil , and rich condition encourage floppy growth at the disbursal of flowers .
If you must amend the soil , a top dressing of compost in early bounce is plenty to support healthy growth .
Companion Planting
Towards peak time , you may notice that the lower parting plough yellow and strike down . This is common . It ’s not unusual to have flowers in full heyday and stems that look like they are dying .
Consider placing shortercompanion plantsin front of them to minimize the appearance of “ spare leg . ”
Various shortersalvia cultivarsfit this purpose nicely as they produce a circumstances of fleshy leaf to facilitate shroud the spindley facet of the aster .
Container Growing
While not the most common choice for container , you’re able to arise white heath asters in magnanimous peck if you provide a lightweight , well - drain grease premix .
pick out a container with good drainage holes and place it in full sun . Keep in judgment that container - acquire plants dry out faster , so jibe the soil wet regularly , especially in hot conditions .
Overwintering
heathland aster are perennial workhorses that call for little winter care . In late fall , after the first frost has blackened the foliage , switch off back the stem to a few inches above earth level to tidy up the garden .
Mulching around the al-Qa’ida with a couple of inches of shredded leaves or wheat will help insulate the tip , though established plants are generally tough enough to survive without extra protective covering .
The aboriginal species and cultivar ofS. ericoidesare available for the home garden .
White Heath Aster
S. ericoidesprovides an informal display , with a proliferation of petite efflorescence pollinators making love .
White heath aster seed areavailable fromEverwilde Farms via Amazonin several packet sizes .
For a lilliputian more color and some unlike sizing options , there are three at least cultivars that have been build up but which can be a bit hard to source :
Blue Star
Mildew - resistantS. ericoides‘Blue Star ’ shoot a line sprays of lavender - blasphemous blooms on 36 - inch stems .
Pink Cloud
S. ericoides‘Pink Cloud ’ has sprays of pale pinkish blossoms on 36 - column inch stems . It is also mold - resistant .
Snow Flurry
S. ericoidesf.prostratum‘Snow Flurry ’ is noteworthy for its horizontal ontogeny riding habit with tufts covered in snowy blooms . It is a mildew - resistant cultivar that matures to about 12 inch marvellous .
When shopping for either the native specie or work varieties , you may come across the Pringle ’s aster , as mentioned previously . Beware that it can reach five feet tall , instead of the typical one to three metrical unit ofS. ericoides .
Throughout the growing season , supervise for pests and sign of disease . Prune off infested or infected stalks and chuck out them in the tripe .
Leggy stalks may require staking with twine and metal or bamboo garden stakes to keep them upright .
If a limb bends and breaks , crop it off two column inch above the pate , where the fore and origin get together , with a smooth , clean cutting . A clean cut heals better than a ragged one and renders flora less vulnerable to pests and disease .
Learn more about pruning in our guide .
At the end of the grow season , you have the pick of all the way - cut all leaf to the ground or leave it in place for winter interest .
With a plant as prone to powdery mould as this one , I recommend cutting all stalk two inches above the crown and cast aside them to nullify grant mould spore a billet to winter . Discard pest- or disease - damage straw in the trash .
Then , implement a two - inch stratum of mulch over the garden to retain moisture and insulate the crowns during the winter months .
Every three to five class , it ’s wise to divideS. ericoidesin early spring , when the first shoots come along .
other spring is also the fourth dimension to remove old mulch and apply a slow - exit , all - purpose farinaceous fertilizer .
By other summer , you could prune off the top third of all the stems to advance bushier increment in improbable varieties .
Learn more about aster sustainment here .
It ’s easy to propagate these plants from seed , flabby stem cuttings , transplanting , or division .
have ’s consider each method acting .
From Seed
you’re able to buy seed or harvest them from a supporter ’s plant . However , hybrids are not likely to produce replicas of a parent , so be prepared for surprises .
There are two options when starting from seed :
starting seeds indoorsfour week before the last springiness frost date .
Direct sow seeds into the garden after the last bound Robert Frost date .
To start indoors :
Provide one in of piddle per hebdomad , rain included .
To address sow seed :
Provide one column inch of water per workweek as described above .
From Soft Stem Cuttings
If you have a friend you may ask , you may take soft prow cuttings from mature flora to get an exact clon of a aboriginal species or intercrossed smorgasbord .
Here ’s how :
Transplant it into prepared garden filth in a sunny emplacement . you may settle the intact seeded player - starter muckle into the filth with the top rim even with the dirt surface . Tamp the ground firmly around it .
uphold one inch of wet per week as identify above .
By Division
Another way to get down is with amature industrial plant that need dividing .
As these plants grow , they ego - sow via dropped seed and form an expanding net of roots , increase their presence in the landscape year by year .
After three to five years , cutting facilitate to improve air flow , conquer fungal disease , and liven up blooming .
To split up , dig as soon as you see young shoots in early spring . Here ’s how :
Transplanting Nursery Starts
Finally , in addition to starting with seeds , soft stem cuttings , or divisions , you’re able to buy a works .
You may transpose seedlings or more mature specimen . Either way , here ’s what to do :
ascertain more about how to diffuse aster in our templet .
aster have a repute for being prostrate to certain pests and fungal conditions .
Some coarse blighter to be aware of are :
mutual diseases include :
Take proactive measures to reduce the peril of pest plague and disease , like grow various nectar - rich plant toattract beneficial insectsthat feed upon pests , and spacing for adequate airflow to inhibit fungal disease .
In addition , you could select mold - repellent cultivars when usable .
A product like organic neem oil colour , a raw fungicide and insecticide , may rise effective against plague or contagion .
heathland asters make excellent anchors for bed , providing a time of year - long , texturally - plenteous green backdrop for smaller plantings in front of them .
They also show well in single - specimen drifts and multi - species wild flower clearing .
Shallow roots and a hard - scrabble nature make heathland asters well - suited to rockeries .
Smaller cultivar show well in loose borders , bungalow , and cutting garden , where a more compact height is desirable . They are also an attractive option forcontainer horticulture .
Why notstart a pollinator gardento attract bee , butterflies , moths , and other good insects ?
With way to range , S. ericoidesreadily naturalizes and multiplies in the landscape .
An Informal Burst of Blooms
The heathland aster bring intensity of tiny white bloom with cheery yellow centers to transitional summer - to - fall gardens .
Choose the aboriginal specie for an wild , informal look in drifts , clearings , and broken rockeries . More compact cultivars are well - suited to bed and border where more constraint is required .
Take out yourgarden plannerand determine where you ’re going to establish heathland asters this year .
Provide full sun , moisture - retentive , well - draining dirt , and an inch of urine per hebdomad in the first year . Once established , plant have above - mean drought tolerance , making them waterwise additions to the late - time of year landscape painting .
If you witness this clause enlightening and want toread more about repeated aster , we recommend the following articles next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right field RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . Originally published May 11th , 2022 . Last updated April 27th , 2025 . Product pic via Everwilde Farms and Amazon . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Nan Schiller
