Small, white flowers, with yellow centers, on branched stems. The flowering branches have a soft, hairy covering. Also known as hairy white oldfield and hairy aster, as it provides a good display late in autumn, after several frosts. Important to wildlife. Shows up in landscapes without planting. Very aggressive.
Native Plant Database
Header Photo: Mervin Wallace
Frost Aster
Symphyotrichum pilosum
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennials
Native Environment: Prairie
Season of Interest: Late (July - frost), Winter (Nov - Mar)
Main Color: White
Fall Color:
USDA PLANTS Range Map
At the range map link above, zoom in for county-level data
Photo: Scott Woodbury
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil
Moisture
Dry
Nature Attracting
Butterfly, Pollinators/Beneficial Insects
Wildlife Benefit
Cover, Food/Birds, Food/Pollinators
Animal
Resistance
Size
Height:
3 to
5
feet
Spread:
2 to
4
feet
Size
Height: 3 to
5
feet
Spread: 2 to
4
feet
Size
Height: 3 to
5
feet
Spread: 2 to
4
feet
Typical Landscape Use
Establishment and Care Instructions
Full sun and poor, rocky soil is best for this plant.
Special Features
Special Usage
Salt Tolerant
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
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Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?
Learn about the Native Environment(s) inhabited by the plants in this database.