Scientific Name: Symphyotrichum pilosum
Common Name: Frost aster (also known as hairy aster, and hairy white oldfield aster)
Native Range: central and eastern North America
Zone: 4 to 8
Plant type & Form: herbaceous perennial
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Spread: 2 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: August to October
Bloom Description: White rays with pale yellow discs. Blooms are small, approximately 3/8″
Leaf: Narrow leaves close to stem
Stems: Hairy stems
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Soil type & pH: Prefers moist, well drained soil
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Useful in naturalized prairie plantings. It blooms alongside many other asters and goldenrods in the fall.
Identification notes: This plant is common in uncultivated areas, and is native upland meadows. The hairy stems that look like frost on this plant give it the name frost aster. Many other asters bloom at this time, and there are many species that look similar to this one, especially Aster ericoides, heath aster.
Image by Gerald Klingaman
Image by Arieh Tal