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Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Boltonia asteroides

Boltonia asteroides (L.) L'Hér.

Boltonia, White Doll's Daisy

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: BOAS

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Broad flat clusters of generally small flower heads with white to pink, purple, or blue rays surrounding a dome-shaped, yellow central disc.

This plant escapes from cultivation and establishes itself locally. Its fruit has spines somewhat like those of beggars'-ticks (Bidens species).

From the Image Gallery

8 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Inflorescence: Head
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall, often shorter.
Leaf: Green
Flower: Flower 1 1/2 inches across
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Will bloom late summer until frost.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI
Canada: MB , SK
Native Distribution: Saskatchewan and Manitoba; Maine south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to North Dakota.
Native Habitat: Sandy or gravelly, moist to wet places.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: acidic, rich, also tolerates clay

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Adds white color to the autumn garden. Two cultivars, 'Snowbank' and 'Pink Beauty', are useful in Zones 6 and 7.
Use Wildlife: Butterfly attractant.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Supports Conservation Biological Control

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

Propagation

Propagation Material: Root Division , Seeds
Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACW		OBL		FACW	FACW		OBL	FACW	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College, The - Valhalla, NY
Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Natural Biodiversity - Johnstown, PA

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Research Literature

Reslit 357 - Acetylenic and Terpenoid Constituents of Boltonia asteroides (1994) J. G. Diaz, B. Barba and W. Herz
Reslit 1109 - Drought response of three ornamental herbaceous perennials (2000) K. J. Prevete, R. T. Fernandez and W. B. Miller

This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
Search More Titles in Research Literature

Additional resources

USDA: Find Boltonia asteroides in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Boltonia asteroides in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Boltonia asteroides

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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