Native Plant Database

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AR , AZ , CO , CT , DE , IA , IL , IN , KS , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: AB , MB , ON , QC , SK
Native Distribution: ME to PA & Man., s. to MS and Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry prairies; roadsides
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry soils.
Conditions Comments: Heath aster is a bushy, grayish, perennial with densely clustered, miniature, daisy-like, white flowers. The tiny leaves resemble those of the heath plant.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Pearl Crescent
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: No

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Supports Conservation Biological Control

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides is a larval host and/or nectar source for:

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Description: Best propagated by division of mature plants which produce numerous, easily-separated rhizomes. Divide in late fall or very early spring. Germination of seed is usually quite low.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Seeds require dry stratification.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0590 Collected Oct 19, 1990 in Comal County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 0617 Collected Oct 30, 1993 in Comal County by Mary Beth White
NPSOT 0978 Collected Oct 30, 1994 in Bexar County by Mike Fox
NPSOT 1121 Collected Oct 12, 1994 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 0621 Collected Nov 5, 1993 in Bexar County by Judith C. Berry

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides