Many-flowered aster, White Heath Aste, Symphyotrichum ericoides (L.) [Aster ericoides], Native Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Frost-weed ASter, White-heath Aster

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	White Heath Aster	Symphyotrichum ericoides (L.) G.L. Nesom [old- Aster ericoides]	Aster (Asteraceae)	Upland	Late Summer to Autumn
Other names and notes	(Many-flowered Aster, Frost-weed Aster). An aster with many small (1/2 to 3/4") flowers, predominately white rays, 8 to 20 in number, although they may be light blue or pink, occuring in a cluster of many flower heads on widly spaced branches. Stems can reach up to 3 feet. The leaves are narrow and small, 1/2" to 1 1/2" long with rough edges.

Notes: There are many sub-species of this aster. Eloise Butler's records show that she first planted the species on October 4, 1908; again on April 29, 1912 with plants obtained fromn Gillett's Nursery, Southwick, MA; and again later in April 1924. The old botanical name she used in 1908 was Aster multiflorus which was reclassified to Aster ericoides and now to Symphyotrichum ericoides (L.). This plant was listed on Martha Crone's 1951 inventory of plants in the Garden at that time. It is native to most counties in Minnesota, particularly the dryer west and SW.

Return to -- Site Plan/Archive --or-- List of Common Plant Names -- or -- List of Scientific Names -- or --Home Page

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.

012512