| Heath Aster | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Compositae |
| Tribe: | Astereae |
| Genus: | Symphyotrichum |
| Subgenus: | Symphyotrichum |
| Section: | Symphyotrichum |
| Species: | S. ericoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Symphyotrichum ericoides (L.) G.L.Nesom |
|
Symphyotrichum ericoides, commonly known as the White Aster or Heath Aster, is an herbaceous perennial in the composite family. It is native to much of North America including the northwestern, central and eastern United States, much of Canada, as well as northern Mexico, and has also been introduced to many areas beyond its native range.
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The heath aster can be found in many open habitats in dry to moist soils. It is characterised by its white or rarely pinkish rays with yellow centres that become brown that appear in late summer through fall.[2][3]
Confusingly, plants sold in the horticultural trade labeled as Aster ericoides, the old name of the plant, are almost invariably cultivars or hybrids involving the European garden plants Symphyotricum dumosum, S. lateriflorum, S. pilosum or S. racemosum, a mistake that has apparently occurred continuously since the 19th century.