Rigid whitetop aster is a native wildflower in the aster family (Asteraceae) found in moderate to high elevations in the mountains of NC, GA, TN and SC in woodlands, meadow and along shady roadsides. It grows in partial shade in moist, well-drained, fertile soil up to 4 feet tall. Propagation is by seed. The lavender to purple rays surround disc flowers that start whitish to cream and darken to pink or purplish. Bloom time is August to October. Use this wildflower in the woodland or pollinator garden or naturalized areas in the mountains orwestern Piedmont of North Carolina. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for the aster leafhopper, which carries aster yellows and scale insects. Disease can include aster yellows, powdery mildew and rust. More information on Symphyotrichum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire; Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
3-6 in. linear to elliptical leaves with serrulate or entire margins.
Flower color
Blue; Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
1-in. composite lavender flowers with a yellow center. Blooms Aug.-Oct. 13 to 30 purplish rays surround cream colored disc flowers that become pinkish.