White wood aster is a rugged, shade-tolerant native aster. Growing from New England to Ohio south to Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina, White Wood Aster is primarily an Appalachian plant. White wood aster is usually found in dense shade, forming large patches over time. In the higher elevations of the Southern Appalachians, it is replaced by the very similar Mountain Wood Aster (Eurybia chlorolepis), which differs primarily in the extended, narrow leaf tips.
White wood aster blooms in Late Summer/Early Autumn, like most asters - The basal leaves can be quite large, but the plants only get half as big as the wider-ranging Blue Wood Aster (Aster cordifolius).
White wood aster is an excellent choice for dry, rocky woods, as well as shade gardens with acidic soil - The plants hold up well during droughts, bouncing back quickly once rain returns. White wood aster combines well with other dry shade plants, forming a unifying ground cover around them. Use White Wood Aster as a ground cover under Fothergillas, combined with Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera), Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia) and White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima).
White wood aster is very easy to grow. Plants do well in dry shade, but will really flourish in a moist spot - So much so that they can outcompete more delicate plants. Site with care! It is also recommended to deadhead White Wood Aster, but if you have a large shady area to cover, let the seeds form and these will spread quite happily. Be sure to water the plants for a few weeks after planting, especially if it doesn't rain.
Our White Wood Aster quart pots will establish quickly, often blooming the same season.
| Common Name: | White Wood Aster |
| Botanical Name: | Aster divaricatus |
