White Heath Aster
White Heath Aster, Frost Aster, Hairy Aster
Symphyotrichum pilosum (Willd.) Nesom
(formerly Aster pilosus Willd.)
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
▲ ▼ young plants emerging from perennial roots in spring
▲ ▼ mature plants
▲ ▼ flowers
▲ ▼ closer view of long, tapered bracts below inflorescences
White Heath Aster, Heath Aster:
- simple perennial, native weed in the Aster family (Asteraceae)
- produces numerous small, white daisy-like flowers in mid-late autumn
- has narrow leaves, almost needle-like around flowers; flower heads have 15-35 petals, and bracts below inflorescence taper to long point that is not particularly thickened
- similar heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) has slightly broader petals, fewer petals per inflorescence (8-20) and the bracts below the inflorescence end in a short, thickened point
- similar to bushy aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum) has very tiny, scale-like leaves on stems so that the stems almost appear leafless, and the flower petals are pinkish
- similar to eastern daisy fleabane, or common fleabane except white heath aster has more linear to needle-like leaves on flowering branches and flowers on white heath aster have fewer petals and the center yellow disk is smaller and more globe-shaped
- reproduces readily by seed
- found in fields, pastures, roadsides
- Control:
- grazing, cutting and mowing somewhat effective (can adapt and bloom under very short cutting height), tilling
- chemical control mostly by postemergent herbicides applied before flowering begins