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Symphyotrichum pilosum
Also called Old Field Aster, White Heath Aster, White Old Field Aster, Awl Aster, Frost Aster, Hairy Aster, Frost Weed Aster
A native North American perennial aster with small white daisy-like flowers in late summer to fall, common in dry fields and roadsides. It is easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil.
Symphyotrichum pilosum (formerly Aster pilosus) is a perennial, herbaceous, flowering plant in the Asteraceae family native to central and eastern North America. It is commonly called hairy white oldfield aster, frost aster, white heath aster, heath aster, hairy aster, common old field aster, old field aster, awl aster, nailrod, and steelweed. There are two varieties: Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pilosum, known by the common names previously listed, and Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pringlei, known as Pringle's aster. Both varieties are conservationally secure globally and in most provinces and states where they are native.
The varieties differ in morphology, distribution, and habitat; S. pilosum var. pilosum is hairy, and S. pilosum var. pringlei is hairless, or nearly so. S. pilosum var. pilosum is the more widespread of the two and grows in various dry habitats, often with weeds. S.
Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pringlei and its cultivar 'Ochtendgloren' have both won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Common blue wood aster · Rice button aster · White heath aster · Short-rayed alkali aster · Smooth blue aster · White panicle aster · Calico aster · New England aster · New York aster · Smooth violet prairie aster · Aster
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Symphyotrichum pilosum 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.
