Pollinator plant

White heath aster

Aster ericoides

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Common names

19 names · 13 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (12)
Dutch
  • Sluieraster
French
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 柳叶白菀[4]
  • 白翠菊[4]
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • astřička vřesovcová[4]
Finnish
  • kanerva-asteri[4]
German
  • Myrten-Herbstaster[3]
Lithuanian
  • Smulkialapis astrūnas[4]
Polish
  • aster wrzoścowy[4]
Russian
  • Астра вересковая[4]
  • Симфиотрихум эриковидный[4]
Slovak
  • astra vresovcovitá[4]
Swedish
  • ljungaster[4]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Symphyotrichum ericoides — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • White Heath Aster — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • Downy Aster — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • Heath Aster — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • White Old-Field Aster — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
[2] Symphyotrichum ericoides — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • white heath aster — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • heath aster — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • many-flowered aster — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • aster éricoïde — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Symphyotrichum ericoides ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • White heath aster (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 144415; taxon 53Q7J.
  • Myrten-Herbstaster (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 144414; taxon 53Q7J.
[4] Symphyotrichum ericoides — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • white heath aster — results[7].names[1]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • heath aster — results[7].names[3]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • many-flowered aster — results[7].names[2]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • aster éricoïde — results[7].names[5]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • astřička vřesovcová — results[7].names[6]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • 白翠菊 — results[7].names[7]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • 白翠菊 — results[7].names[8]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • ljungaster — results[7].names[9]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • Астра вересковая — results[7].names[10]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • Симфиотрихум эриковидный — results[7].names[11]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • Smulkialapis astrūnas — results[7].names[12]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • kanerva-asteri — results[7].names[13]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • aster wrzoścowy — results[7].names[14]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • 柳叶白菀 — results[7].names[15]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
  • astra vresovcovitá — results[7].names[16]; taxon id 126654; Symphyotrichum ericoides.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Catalogue of Life treats Aster ericoides as a synonym of Symphyotrichum ericoides.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family
Asteraceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.46–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum ericoides; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Mature spread
0.3–0.46 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum ericoides; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Plant habit
Erect

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum ericoides; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum ericoides; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum ericoides; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum ericoides; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum ericoides; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum ericoides; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum ericoides; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum ericoides; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [3]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum ericoides; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [3]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum ericoides; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [3]
Native range
C. & E. Canada to Mexico.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

White heath aster (Aster ericoides) is a herbaceous plant. Its flowering period is not specified.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Aster ericoides — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 4871793; ID HPZX; rank species; status synonym

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Symphyotrichum ericoides — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1316121; ID 53Q7J; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1316121; ID 53Q7J; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  3. NC State Extension Symphyotrichum ericoides — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Symphyotrichum ericoides — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 509025, 509027; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1664288, 1664289, 1664290, 1664291, 1664292, 1664293, 1664294, 1664295, 1664296, 1664297, 1664298, 1664299, 1664300, 1664301, 1664302, 1664303, 1664304, 1664305, 1664306, 1664307, 1664308, 1664309, 1664310, 1664311, 1664312, 1664313, 1664314, 1664315, 1664316, 1664317, 1664318, 1664319, 1664320, 1664321, 1664322, 1664323, 1664324, 1664325, 1664326, 1664327, 1664328, 1664329, 1664330, 1664331, 1664332, 1664333, 1664334, 1664335

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.