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Juett, William

Symphyotrichum divaricatum

Symphyotrichum divaricatum (Nutt.) G.L. Nesom

Southern Annual Saltmarsh Aster, Lawn American-aster, White Wood Aster, Saltmarsh Aster, Slender Aster

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Aster divaricatus, Aster exilis, Aster neomexicanus, Aster subulatus var. ligulatus

USDA Symbol: SYDI2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

This is a loose, sprawling plant with clusters of bright flowers. The tiny but numerous flowers have yellow centers and pale lavender to blue to white petals, often drying pink. Wiry, drooping stems may be 3 feet long.

From the Image Gallery

5 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall, often much shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov , Dec

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , KS , KY , LA , MO , MS , NE , NM , OK , TN , TX , VA
Native Habitat: Dry woods & clearings.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Mesic to dry, average to rich soils.
Conditions Comments: White Wood Aster is easy to grow in partly shady gardens. It will flower in full shade and spreads readily.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

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

Propagation

Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

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

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0620 Collected Nov 5, 1993 in Bexar County by Judith C. Berry

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-MM-784 Collected 2006-10-16 in Hays County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

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

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-11-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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