General Plant Information (Edit)
| Plant Habit: |
Herb/Forb
|
| Sun Requirements: |
Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
|
| Water Preferences: |
Mesic
|
| Soil pH Preferences: |
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
|
| Minimum cold hardiness: |
Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
|
| Maximum recommended zone: |
Zone 8b
|
| Plant Height: |
24 - 36 inches |
| Plant Spread: |
12 - 24 inches |
| Flowers: |
Showy
|
| Flower Color: |
White
|
| Bloom Size: |
Under 1"
|
| Flower Time: |
Late summer or early fall
Fall
|
| Underground structures: |
Rhizome
|
| Uses: |
Cut Flower
Will Naturalize
|
| Wildlife Attractant: |
Bees
Butterflies
|
| Propagation: Seeds: |
Stratify seeds: 3 months at 40 degrees
Suitable for wintersowing
Sow in situ
Start indoors
Can handle transplanting
|
| Propagation: Other methods: |
Cuttings: Stem
Division
|
| Pollinators: |
Various insects
|
| Miscellaneous: |
Monoecious
|
- Calico Aster
- Fall Aster
- Goblet Aster
- Side-flowering Aster
- Aster
- Small White Aster
- Accepted: Symphyotrichum lateriflorum
- Synonym: Aster vimineus
- Synonym: Symphyotrichum lateriflorum var. horizontale
- Synonym: Symphyotrichum lateriflorum var. spatelliforme
- Synonym: Symphyotrichum lateriflorum var. flagellare
- Synonym: Symphyotrichum lateriflorum var. angustifolium
- Synonym: Symphyotrichum lateriflorum var. tenuipes
Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Sep 24, 2021 2:52 PM concerning plant:
This is a common native forb in meadows, fields, and woodland edges from southern Quebec & Ontario down into Florida to Texas. In my old book from 1968 of A Field Guide Tp Wildflowers by Peterson & McKenny on page 96 there are two asters listed next to each other of the Small White Aster of Aster vimineus and Calico or Starved Aster of Aster lateriflorus that were so extremely similar that botanists must have wisely decided they are really just one species. Most New World Asters were given a new name of Symphyotrichum and "vimineus" was dropped. This forb has small white ray flowers, looking like "petals" and disc flowers in the "nose" or "button" that begin yellow and turn reddish-purple. The flowers are crowded on the stems and often grow more on one side of the stems. The low leaves are larger of up to 6 inches long by 1.5 inches wide, but they decrease in size a lot as they ascend the stems. The stems are sort of purplish. The root system is both fibrous and of rhizomes. A few native plant nurseries sell some, including seed, but not a big, popular item.
Posted by
LoriMT (Dawsonville, GA - Zone 8a) on Oct 27, 2022 7:34 AM concerning plant:
The flowers of this native perennial are tiny compared to other asters, growing no more than 1/2" across. Each flower has 8-15 white rays which surround a central disc of 8-16 tiny tubular disk flowers. The flowers start white and mature to purplish-red, thus creating the appearance of its common name "Calico Aster".
Posted by
Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 2, 2014 7:50 PM concerning plant:
According to NPIN, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum has special value to native bees and supports conservation biological control by attracting beneficial insects to the garden.
Posted by
Mindy03 (Delta KY) on May 11, 2012 4:38 PM concerning plant:
Honey bees get nectar from this plant.
Plant Events from our members
| mevl |
On April 19, 2021 |
Obtained plant
Country Garden |
| WebTucker |
On October 6, 2022 |
Bloomed |
» Post your own event for this plant
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