Heath Aster
Symphyotrichum ericoides (L.) Nesom.
(formerly Aster ericoides L.)
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family
▲ mature plant
▲ ▼ flowers
Heath Aster:
· simple perennial, native weed in the Aster family (Asteraceae)
· produces numerous small, white daisy-like flowers in mid-late autumn
· has narrow, lanceolate to oblanceolate leaves; flower heads have 8-20 petals, and bracts below inflorescence end in a short, thickened point
· similar white heath aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) flowers have almost linearl leaves among the inflorescences,and flowers have slightly narrower petals, and more petals per inflorescence (15-35) and the bracts below the inflorescence taper to a long, narrow point
· similar bushy aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum) has very tiny, scale-like leaves on stems so that the stems almost appear leafless, and the flower petals are pinkish
· similar to eastern daisy fleabane, or common fleabane except white heath aster has more linear to needle-like leaves on flowering branches and flowers on white heath aster have fewer petals and the center yellow disk is smaller and more globe-shaped
· reproduces readily by seed
· found in fields, pastures, roadsides
· Control:
o grazing, cutting and mowing somewhat effective (can adapt and bloom under very short cutting height), tilling
o chemical control mostly by postemergent herbicides applied before flowering begins