Flat-topped Aster, Doellingeria umbellata (Mill.) [Old name - Aster umbellatus], Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Parasol Aster

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Flat-topped Aster	Doellingeria umbellata (Mill.) var. Pubens [Old name - Aster umbellatus]	Aster	Woodland	Late summer - autumn
Other names and notes	(Parasol Aster) Small flower heads (1/2 to 3/4") with 7 to 14 white rays growing atop tall stems, 3 to 6 feet high, in a flat-topped cluster. Leaves are lance shaped, much longer than wide, toothless and stalkless, tapering at both ends and are 4 to 6times longer than wide. The plant prefers moist soil and is one of the earliest blooming asters in the Woodland Garden along the bog trail. This aster, like many others, have recently been reclassified by botanists into other genera. The old species name, umbellatus, referred to the umbrella-like flower heads.


Above and Right: Flowers of mid-August

Above: Flower buds of early August. Right: Leaf structure. Below: Flower Detail

Notes: Flat-topped Aster is indigenous to the Garden Area. This plant was listed on Martha Crone's 1951 inventory of plants in the Garden at that time and was listed on all subsequent census. It is native to most of Minnesota except the dryer counties of the West and SW.

Return to The Friends of the Wild Flower Garden Site Plan/Archive

References: Plant characteristics are generally from sources 15, 16, 30, 31, 33, W2 & W3. Distribution principally from W2 and also 31, 34 and W1. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details.

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