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| ## white heath aster {#white-heath-aster .Title-Header}               |
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| *Symphyotrichum ericoides* (L.) Nesom var. *ericoides*                |
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| Plant Symbol = SYERE                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

### ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.3in" height="1.8416666666666666in"}

##### Alternate Names  {#alternate-names .Header-3}

*Aster ericoides, Aster ericoides* forma *caeruleus, Aster ericoides*
forma *ericoides*, *Aster ericoides* forma *gramsii, Aster ericoides*
ssp. *ericoides, Aster multiflorus, Aster multiflorus* var. *caeruleus,
Aster multiflorus* var. *exiguous, Aster multiflorus* var. *pansus,
Aster pansus, Aster polycephalus, Aster stricticaulis*, blue aster,
dense-flower aster, elongate aster, farewell-to-summer,
goodbye-to-meadow, heath aster, *Lasallea ericoides*, squarrose white
aster, *Symphyotrichum ericoides*, tufted white prairie aster, *Virgus
ericoides*, white aster, white prairie aster, white-wreath aster, wreath
aster.

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Ethnobotanic:* Native Americans used white heath aster in sweat baths.
Flowering plants served as binding to the structure of the sweat lodge
and were added to hot rocks to produce herbal steam. White heath aster
was also used medicinally to revive unconscious patients.

*Economic:* White heath aster is economically valuable as an ornamental.

*Gardening:* The showy flowers of white heath aster make it a popular
plant for use in wildflower and native plant gardens.

*Livestock and forage:* Livestock will not consume white heath aster. It
can lower the forage quality of prairie hay.

*Wildlife:* White heath aster is a source of nectar and shelter for
butterflies. It is resistant to deer browsing.

##### Legal Status {#legal-status .Header-3}

White heath aster is endangered in Tennessee. Please consult the PLANTS
Web site (http://plants.usda. gov) and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Weediness {#weediness .Header-3}

White heath aster is reported to be invasive by *Weeds of Nebraska and
the Great Plains*. This plant may become weedy or invasive in some
regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not
properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office,
Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural resource or
agriculture department regarding its status and use. Weed information is
also available from the PLANTS Web site at plants.usda.gov.

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Aster family (Asteraceae). White heath aster is a hardy
perennial with an extensive root system of rhizomes and stolons. This
bushy plant grows to be 0.5 to 1 m tall and can have a 30 cm spread.
Leaves are narrow (1cm wide) and linear (7 cm long), resembling the
leaves of heather. At the time of flowering, most leaves drop except for
those directly beneath the flower head. The remaining leaves are reduced
to bracts. One plant can produce up to 100 flower heads. Ray flowers are
white-to-pink, center disc flowers are yellowish-to-purple. Seeds are
achenes that have tufts of white bristles to help them blow away with
the wind. Flowering takes place August through November.

White heath aster is difficult to distinguish from other white flowered
species. A key characteristic is the blunt point of the bracts beneath
the flower head. Other asters have sharply pointed bracts, bracts
pressed against the inflorescence, or both.

*Distribution*: White heath aster is native to the United States. It
occurs from Maine to southern Saskatchewan, south to Virginia, Texas,
northern Mexico and southeast Arizona. For current distribution, please
consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

*Habitat*: White heath aster is found in dry-mesic prairies, open black
oak or jack pine woods, sand dunes and savanna communities. It is weedy
in disturbed areas like roadsides, railroads, sandy fields, gravel pits
and quarries, and sometimes riverbanks and lakeshores.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

The USDA hardiness zones for white heath aster are 5 to 8. It is best
adapted to dry and medium wet, well-drained soils found in open areas
like prairies with sandy, gravelly, or rocky substrates. It is drought
hardy and does well in sun and partial sun.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Like other aster species, white heath aster seeds are ready for
collection in September when achenes separate easily from the
receptacle. Dry seeds prior to cleaning and store in sealed containers
at 3 to 5^o^C.

If sowing indoors, damp stratify white heath aster seeds at 1 to 2^o^C
for 2.5 to 4 months.

For springtime seeding, sow seeds either inside an unheated greenhouse
or outside before the last frost. White heath aster can also be direct
sown outdoors in the fall or mid-winter in covered containers, cold
frames, or unheated greenhouses. Germination will occur within 2 weeks.

Cut clumped plants into several separate pieces, each piece having buds
and roots, to divide prairie plants like white heath aster. These
"seedlings" can then be transplanted. Divisions should be made in late
summer and transplanting can take place from September through November,
or mid-April to mid-June. If not transplanting until spring, store
potted seedlings in outdoor temperatures under insulating foam (if
necessary).

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

White heath aster resprouts from the underground stem after fire and
responds to fire with vigorous growth the following growing season. As
part of prairie restoration, prescribed burns should take place annually
for the first 5 to 6 years, and biannually after the initial phase.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

The NRCS Plant Materials Program has not released any cultivars of white
heath aster for conservation use. Ornamental cultivars of this species
include 'Blue Star,' 'Ester,' 'Monte Cassino,' 'Pink Cloud,' 'Pink
Star,' and 'Snowflurry.'

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

##### References {#references .Header-3}

##### Cochrane, T.S. and H.H. Iltis. 2004. *Atlas of the Wisconsin prairie and savanna flora: Aster ericoides* (http://www.botany.wisc.edu/herbarium/ wisflora/ atlas/ASTERIvERI.gif, 26 February 2004). Wisconsin State Herbarium, Madison. {#cochrane-t.s.-and-h.h.-iltis.-2004.-atlas-of-the-wisconsin-prairie-and-savanna-flora-aster-ericoides-httpwww.botany.wisc.eduherbarium-wisflora-atlasasteriveri.gif-26-february-2004.-wisconsin-state-herbarium-madison. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### Connecticut Botanical Society. 2003. *Heath aster: Aster ericoides (Symphyotrichum ericoides)* (http:// www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/astereric.html, 31 January, 2004). New Haven. {#connecticut-botanical-society.-2003.-heath-aster-aster-ericoides-symphyotrichum-ericoides-http-www.ct-botanical-society.orggalleriesastereric.html-31-january-2004.-new-haven. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-2 .Header-3}

##### Kantrud, H.A. 1995. *Native wildflowers of the North Dakota grasslands* (http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/ resource/literatr/wildflwr/wildflwr.htm, 31 January 2004). USGS, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown. {#kantrud-h.a.-1995.-native-wildflowers-of-the-north-dakota-grasslands-httpwww.npwrc.usgs.gov-resourceliteratrwildflwrwildflwr.htm-31-january-2004.-usgs-northern-prairie-wildlife-research-center-jamestown. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-3 .Header-3}

##### Kennedy, H. 2004. *Heath aster* (http://plantsdatabase. com/go/1277/, 16 February 2004). The Plants Database, Kerrville. {#kennedy-h.-2004.-heath-aster-httpplantsdatabase.-comgo1277-16-february-2004.-the-plants-database-kerrville. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-4 .Header-3}

##### Mark, R. 1999. *Twin Swamps Nature Preserve trail: Aster ericoides* (http://www.usi.edu/science/biology/ TwinSwamps/Aster_ericoides.htm, 31 January, 2004). Twin Swamps Nature Preserve, University of Southern Indiana, New Harmony. {#mark-r.-1999.-twin-swamps-nature-preserve-trail-aster-ericoides-httpwww.usi.edusciencebiology-twinswampsaster_ericoides.htm-31-january-2004.-twin-swamps-nature-preserve-university-of-southern-indiana-new-harmony. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-5 .Header-3}

##### McClain, W.E. 2004. *Prairie establishment and landscaping* (http://dnr.state.il.us/conservation/ naturalheritage/prairie/CNTNT1.HTM, 16 February 2004). Illinois DNR, Division of Natural Heritage, Springfield. {#mcclain-w.e.-2004.-prairie-establishment-and-landscaping-httpdnr.state.il.usconservation-naturalheritageprairiecntnt1.htm-16-february-2004.-illinois-dnr-division-of-natural-heritage-springfield. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-6 .Header-3}

##### North Central Resources. 2004. *Weeds of the north central states* (http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/\~vista/ html_pubs/WEEDS/190.html). Illinois Extension Service, Urbana. {#north-central-resources.-2004.-weeds-of-the-north-central-states-httpwww.extension.uiuc.eduvista-html_pubsweeds190.html.-illinois-extension-service-urbana. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-7 .Header-3}

##### On-line Plants Information. 2004. *Aster ericoides* (http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc831.htm, 31 January, 2004). Horticopia, Inc. {#on-line-plants-information.-2004.-aster-ericoides-httpwww.horticopia.comhortpixhtmlpc831.htm-31-january-2004.-horticopia-inc. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-8 .Header-3}

##### Plant Finder. 2003. *Kemper Web: Aster ericoides* (http://ridgwaydb. mobot.org/kemperweb/plantfinder/ Plant.asp?code=J48D, 31 January, 2004). Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. {#plant-finder.-2003.-kemper-web-aster-ericoides-httpridgwaydb.-mobot.orgkemperwebplantfinder-plant.aspcodej48d-31-january-2004.-missouri-botanical-garden-st.-louis. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-9 .Header-3}

##### Rechenthin, C.A. 2004. *USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database,* Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov, 21 February 2004). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge. {#rechenthin-c.a.-2004.-usda-nrcs-plants-database-version-3.5-httpplants.usda.gov-21-february-2004.-national-plant-data-center-baton-rouge. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-10 .Header-3}

##### Slaby, P. 2001. *Symphyotrichum ericoides* (http://web. kadel.cz/flora/kvInfo.html, 31 January 2004). Rock Garden Plants, version 2.7. {#slaby-p.-2001.-symphyotrichum-ericoides-httpweb.-kadel.czflorakvinfo.html-31-january-2004.-rock-garden-plants-version-2.7. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-11 .Header-3}

##### Stubbendieck, J., G.Y. Friisoe, and M.R. Bolick. 1994. *Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains*. Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Lincoln. {#stubbendieck-j.-g.y.-friisoe-and-m.r.-bolick.-1994.-weeds-of-nebraska-and-the-great-plains.-nebraska-department-of-agriculture-bureau-of-plant-industry-lincoln. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-12 .Header-3}

##### USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. 2003. *GRIN online database* (http://www.ars-grin. gov). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville. {#usda-ars-national-genetic-resources-program.-2003.-grin-online-database-httpwww.ars-grin.-gov.-national-germplasm-resources-laboratory-beltsville. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-13 .Header-3}

##### Vascular Plant Species Database. 2004. *Aster laevis L. var. laevis* (http://www.botany.wisc.edu/wisflora/ scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=ASTERIvERI, 31 January, 2004). Wisconsin State Herbarium. {#vascular-plant-species-database.-2004.-aster-laevis-l.-var.-laevis-httpwww.botany.wisc.eduwisflora-scriptsdetail.aspspcodeasteriveri-31-january-2004.-wisconsin-state-herbarium. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-14 .Header-3}

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

##### *Sarah Wennerberg* {#sarah-wennerberg .Header-3}

Formerly USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Mark Skinner*

USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

##### Edited: 26Feb2004 sbw; 21Oct2004 rln; 060817 jsp {#edited-26feb2004-sbw-21oct2004-rln-060817-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
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*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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