Asters

Asters & Fleabanes

Frost Aster Prairie Fleabane Late Purple Aster Narrow-leaved White Aster

What are they?

Asters and fleabanes are familiar to all. Their flowers are daisy-like and have either white or purplish to bluish petals. At one time, most of these plants fell within a large genus of plants, the genus Aster. However, more recent taxonomies split them up into a number of genera, with the tongue- tripping Symphyotrichum now containing the most species.

Note that the Fleabanes in the genus Erigeron have been included here as they superficially resemble asters with their many-rayed, white flowers with yellow centers. Generally, however, fleabanes flower in late spring and early summer while the 'true asters' flower in late summer and the fall.

Where are they found?

Asters are found mostly in open, grassy fields and along roadsides, but there are one or two smaller species that occur along woodland paths or in marshes. There is even a couple of saltmarsh species.

Identification

Many of these species are very variable in appearance and some individual plants defy certain identification (with some probably being hybrids). However, most should be identifiable using details of stem hairiness, flower arrangement on the stem and leaf shape.

One technical term that it is useful to know when identifying this group is Phyllary. The phyllaries are the greenish outer part of the compound head of flowers and which can differ quite significantly between two, otherwise very similar, species.

Flat-topped White Aster Doellingeria umbellata

(Parasol Whitetop) A plant of the Delaware watershed which is uncommon to rare in the Cape May area, but occurs at a few marshy locations in the northern half of the county. Flowers late August to October. A stout plant with leafy stems and oddly lop-sided flowerheads.


Habit	Flowers	Phyllaries	Leaf

Bog Aster Oclemena nemoralis

A Pine Barrens species that can be found in wet sphagnum bogs in the north of the county. Flowers are very pale lilac-blue on long, leafy stems. The leaves readily identify this species. Flowers mid-August to September.


Flower - note the small yellow center compared with species in the genus Symphyotrichum	Phyllaries evenly green- centered their entire length	Leaves have rough surfaces and a single pair of teeth along the margin	Stems relatively thin and pale. Leaves with inrolled margins

Stiff Aster Ionactis linariifolia

Uncommon in the north of the county in dry, sandy soils. Flowers August to October. Best told from other asters by the very stiff, glossy leaves that have an evergreen look about them.


Habit	Flower	Phyllaries are stiff, like the leaves	Leaves shining green and stiff

Narrow-leaved White Aster Sericocarpus linifolius

The Sericocarpus asters are easily told by their white flowers which bear just four or five petals on each head. They can usually be found in clearings in woodland and on woodland edge. Flowers late June to August.


Habit	Flowers	Green tips of phyllaries not curled back	Leaves narrow and untoothed

Toothed White Aster Sericocarpus asteroides

The Sericocarpus asters are easily told by their white flowers which bear just four or five petals on each head. They can usually be found in clearings in woodland and on woodland edge. Flowers late June to August.


Flowers	Green tips of phyllaries curled back	Leaves have one or two uneven teeth and are winged to the base	Note the bristle-like hairs along the leaf margin

Philadelphia Fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus

The Erigeron fleabanes are superficially similar to the 'asters' but can be readily told by their very narrow, thread-like petals and their flowering season which is earlier in the year. This species is widespread and very showy in flower, as it often forms quite extensive colonies of stems. It occurs along roadsides, in woodland glades and in other grassy areas. Flowers May to July.


Habit	Flower heads often pink-tinged	Basal rosette of leaves present at flowering time	Stems very hairy and leaves clasping at base

Eastern Daisy Fleabane Erigeron annuus

An annual species of field margins and disturbed ground. Flowers May to August, occasionally later in mild years. Can be very difficult to tell from Prairie Fleabane, but typical plants are usually taller, have broader, toothed leaves and stem hairs tend to be a little denser and longer. Mown specimens on roadsides can be very difficult to put a name to.


Habit	Flowers	Leaf	Stem

Prairie Fleabane Erigeron strigosus

An annual species of field margins and disturbed ground. Flowers May to August, occasionally later in mild years. Can be very difficult to tell from Eastern Daisy Fleabane, but typical plants are usually shorter, have narrower, untoothed leaves and stem hairs tend to be sparse and short. Mown specimens on roadsides can be very problematic.


Habit	Flower	Leaf	Stem

Aster-like Boltonia Boltonia asteroides

(White Doll's Daisy) A scarce plant of wet meadows and grassy hollows, best known locally from Bennett's Bog. Flowers August to September. Whole plant has a blue-green look and the leaves are covered in tiny pale dots (hand lens may be required).


Habit	Flowerheads carried singly on long stems	Phyllaries	Leaf close-up

Slender Aster Eurybia compacta

Occasional in dry, sandy ground in woodland clearings in the north of Cape May County. Flowers July to September.


Habit	Flowers pale lilac or pale pink	Phyllaries tipped dark green	Basal leaf (stem leaves narrower)

Eastern Showy Aster Eurybia spectabilis

Occasional in dry, sandy ground in woodland clearings in the north of Cape May County. Flowers July to October.


	Flowers pale lilac-blue	Phyllaries strongly recurved	Stem leaf

White Wood Aster Eurybia divaricata

Introduced from further west but occasionally found as a garden escape, or selfsown. Flowers July to September. The large basal leaves with heart-shaped bases coupled with the white aster flowers are distinctive in our area.


Habit	Flowers White	Phyllaries flat	Lower stem leaf

Perennial Saltmarsh Aster Symphyotrichum tenuifolium

An uncommon plant of saltmarsh edge. Flowers August to October. Slender and wiry, easy overlooked when not in flower.


Habit	Flowerhead	Phyllaries	Leaves fleshy in cross-section

Annual Saltmarsh Aster Symphyotrichum subulatum

Found in coastal, swampy ground at the back of saltmarshes and in saline soils such as in dredging impoundments. Flowers August to October. A variable species which often forms extensive colonies of many-headed, branching, wiry stems. In drier conditions, plants often become purple-tinged.


Wiry stems with tiny flowers	Short-petalled flowers and fluffy seedheads	Phyllaries green or purple-tinged	Leaves long, narrow and strap-like

New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

This species doesn't occur as a native in Cape May County, but is included here as it is widely grown in wildlife gardens to attract butterflies and, as such, may occasionally be found as a garden throw-out or self-sown along roadsides.


Flowers brightly-colored and showy. Usually pink, lilac or pinkish-blue	Phyllaries with long, pointed tips which are curved outwards	Leaves are broad-based and strongly clasping the stem, giving a laddered effect

Late Purple Aster Symphyotrichum patens

Locally common along shady field margins, roadsides and woodland clearings. Flowers August to October. The stiff leaves with clasping bases are distinctive.


Habit	Flower head	Phyllaries	Leaves

Wavy-leaved Aster Symphyotrichum undulatum

Uncommon along shady field margins, roadsides and woodland clearings. Flowers August to October. The peculiar shapes of the leaf petioles are distinctive.


Flowers pale lilac	Phyllaries	Lower stem-leaf	Leaves

Frost Aster Symphyotrichum pilosum

(Hairy White Oldfield Aster) Far and away the most abundant aster in Cape May County where it is a vigorous species of abandoned farm fields, old meadows and roadsides. This is the species that brightens many a browning meadow with a mass of blooms in October. This is a very variable plant that has been split into several species in the past. Many features are rather variable, but all but the smallest, weakest individuals should be readily identifable from the other white-flowered species found locally. Flowers September to October, sometimes later. Frost Aster can be confusing as it is missing from many earlier flower books, due to confusion with other species, particularly Heath Aster Symphyotrichum ericoides.


Flowers are larger than other white asters found locally. (Here compared with the tiny flowers of Calico Aster)	Phyllaries are sharply pointed and usually curve outwards	Leaves toothless, slightly hairy and clasp the stem	Stems hairy and often purplish

Small White Aster Symphyotrichum racemosum

(Smooth White Oldfield Aster) Usually found in wet, grassy places, not far from water. Flowers August to November.


Flower	Phyllaries	Lower leaves long and narrow	Upper leaves small and plentiful

Bushy Aster Symphyotrichum dumosum

(Rice Button Aster) Widespread but rather localised species of usually sandy ground. Flowers September to October. A rather variable species, but usually well-branched and with many small, leaf-like bracts on the flowering branchlets. Flowers very pale lilac, often appearing white.


Habit	Flowers tightly packed	Leafy bracts below flowerhead	Leaves often in small rosettes

Calico Aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum

As with Frost Aster, this is another very variable plant that has been split into several species and forms in the past. The tiny flowers that turn from cream-centered to purple-centered should be readily identifiable however. Prefers dry, open ground of woodland edge, field margins and even coastal dunes. Flowers September to October, occasionally into November.


Young flowers - note creamy centers and leaf-like bracts on the flower stems	Flower centers turn through pink to purple	Phyllaries with spoon-shaped areas of green	Lower leaves relatively large and long with winged bases and a few uneven teeth

New York Aster Symphyotrichum novi-belgii

Generally found in rather moist conditions on the edge of marshes or even saltmarsh. Flowers August to October. Flowers relatively large and flowering spike rather open, not crowded.


Habit	Flowers very pale, lilac pinkish or bluish	Leaves long and narrow, broadest at the middle and with a few teeth	Leaves with tapered tips and stalkless at the base

Tatarian Aster Aster tataricus

Introduced as a garden plant from Europe, but originally from central Asia. Flowers August to October. Flowers relatively large and carried in a relatively narrow, upright spike. Basal leaves large and coarse, stem leaves narrower, saw-toothed and often partly folded (V-shaped in cross-section). A large and showy species which is listed as an invasive alien in some states, but has not yet shown such tendencies in the Cape May region.


Habit	Flowers pale lilac	Basal leaves large and coarse	Stem leaves narrower with toothed margins

Cape May Plants An Identification Guide

Asters & Fleabanes

What are they?

Where are they found?

Identification

Species List

Cape May Plants
An Identification Guide