Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Aster ericoides, A. ericoides var. caeruleus, A. ericoides var. randi, A. multiflorus var. caeruleus, Lasallea ericoides, Virgulus ericoides
Other common names
frost aster
heath aster
white heath American-aster
little gray aster
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pilosum, S. falcatum
Height
To 3 feet
Riparian
No
Erect, bushy plant forming large patches. Stems hairy, much branched above, covered in small, grayish-green, needle-like leaves. Small often white, daisy-like flower heads with yellow centers grow in profusion in spreading, often 1-sided dense clusters.
Stems sparsely to densely hairy, can be smooth at base; flower head bracts spine-tipped, short haired on back; disc flowers yellow; ray flowers narrow, usually white, sometimes purplish or pinkish-tinged, usually in only 1 series.
Habitat
Open, dry to moist, well drained, sandy or gravelly, disturbed soils, prairies, glades, dunes, fields, shores, railroad rights-of-way, roadsides.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
100
High elevation
7200
Flower Characteristics
Flower heads are 1/3 to 1/2 inch wide with an outer row of 8 to 20 white (at times purplish or pinkish-tinged) strap-shaped ray florets surrounding a center of 4 to 15 yellow tube-like disc florets. Leaf-like bracts below the flower head have spiny tips.
Flower color
White to purplish or pink-tinged
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Hairy branches are single or multiple from the base; leaves needle-like, to 2 inches long, about 1/4 inch wide, stemless, hairless to sparsely hairy and becoming smaller towards the top of the plant. Uppermost leaves have a short spine at the tip.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit is dry, egg-like to oblong in shape, may be hooked or curved like a sickle and has 7 to 9 slightly visible veins on its surface. It is covered with fine, silky hairs to dense, stiff, slender bristles which aid in wind dispersal.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Deep purple, ages brown
Seeds are tiny, less than 1/16 inch, dark brown with a very narrow oblong shape. The fruit produces 1 seed. When mature, the fruit does not split open to release the seed.