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Lynn, Janice

Symphyotrichum dumosum

Symphyotrichum dumosum (L.) G.L. Nesom

Rice Button Aster, White Bushy Aster

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SYDU2

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

Rather stiff plant having leafy branches that bear numerous terminal flower heads, with white or pale lavender ray flowers and pale yellow or brownish disc flowers.

This wildflower is most widely found in the southern states, and elsewhere is more locally restricted to shoreline areas, such as around the Great Lakes.

From the Image Gallery

23 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
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: Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV
Canada: NB , ON
Native Distribution: Southeast Ontario; Maine south to Florida and west to Texas, mainly coastal; north through Illinois and Indiana to Michigan.
Native Habitat: Sandy open sites; occasionally marshy ground.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

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

National Wetland Indicator Status

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

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:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
First United Methodist Church of Jefferson City - Jefferson City, TN

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-19
Research By: TWC Staff

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