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Eurybia spectabilis
Also called Low Showy Aster, Seaside Purple Aster, Purple Wood Aster
Eurybia spectabilis is a native herbaceous perennial aster of the eastern US, grown mainly in woodland and native gardens for its late-season purple flowers. The key to growing it is well-drained, sandy soil in dappled shade or partial sun.
Eurybia spectabilis, commonly known as the eastern showy aster, simply showy aster or purple wood aster, is an herbaceous perennial native to the eastern United States. It is present along the coastal plain of the U.S. where it is most often found growing in dry, sandy soils. Although it is not considered threatened due to its extensive range, it is locally endangered in many states. The flowers appear in the fall and show ray florets that are a violet-purple and yellow disc florets. It is one of the parent species of the hybrid Eurybia × herveyi.
Eurybia spectabilis is present along the coastal plain of eastern North America. Its range stretches from Massachusetts and New York in the north, south to South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. It is found primarily growing sandy soils, though occasionally it is present in dry clay. It can be found at elevations of 0 to 900 metres (0–3000 feet) near granite outcrops, in dry oak-pine woods, pine barrens, and in peat bogs. They are also present along the borders of woods, in clearings and fields as well as along roadsides.
Alexander's rock aster · Mountain aster · Slender aster · Western showy aster · White wood aster · Thistleleaf aster · Forked aster · Southern prairie aster · Thickstem aster · Jones' aster · King's Serpentweed · Bigleaf aster
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Eurybia spectabilis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
