Flowering species in the daisy or Asteraceae family. Native to the eastern half of North America, it can be found growing in the mountains, piedmont, and coastal plains of North Carolina. Stems are light green to redish brown and have lines of fine white hairs. Leaves are alternate 4" long and 1/2' wide and may have white hairs on the undersides of major veins. Upper side of leaves are medium green and lower are light green. They are narrowly lanceolate, oblanceolate, or elliptic, becoming linear near the flowerheads with a few teeth toward the tips of the larger leaves, otherwise they have smooth margins. Panicles of daisy-like white or pale lavender flowers, each with yellow center flowerheads, reach 10" long and 6" across. 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
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Linear; Oblanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Rough; Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Alternate 4" long and 1/2' wide and may have white hairs on the undersides of major veins. Upper side of leaves are medium green and lower are light green. They are narrowly lanceolate, oblanceolate, or elliptic, becoming linear near the flowerheads with a few teeth toward the tips of the larger leaves; otherwise, they have smooth margins.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Panicles of daisy-like white or pale lavender flowers, each with yellow center flowerheads, reach 10" long and 6" across. Blooms from September to November
Bloom time
Fall
Fruit color
Pink; White
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
Displays from October to November.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Stems are light green to redish brown and have lines of fine white hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Canada to Mexico
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Symphyotrichum support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteris, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteroides, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) hirticincta, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) nubecula, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) placata, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) simplex, and Colletes simulans.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds; Specialized Bees