Flat Top Aster (Doellingeria umbellata)
Doellingeria um-bell-AY-tah

Magnificent, tall perennial with flat-topped, white blossom clusters.

Doellingeria umbellata, commonly known as parasol white aster or flat-top white umbel, is a native North American perennial that adds graceful, late-season interest to the garden.

Growing 2-5 feet tall, this upright, clump-forming aster produces an abundance of small, daisy-like flowers atop sturdy, branching stems. In mid to late summer into fall, the terminal umbels open to reveal hundreds of delicate, white petals surrounding sunny yellow centers that fade to cream. The blooms appear in loose, flat-topped clusters 3-12 inches across, lending a lacy, airy quality to the plant's overall appearance.

The foliage of Doellingeria umbellata is medium to dark green above and paler beneath, with lance-shaped leaves that stay green through fall rather than changing color. This native aster spreads by rhizomes to form colonies, and is adaptable to a range of moist, slightly acidic soils, growing best in full sun to partial shade.

Once established, Doellingeria umbellata tolerates drought and is generally unpalatable to deer and rabbits, though young plants are sometimes browsed and benefit from protection while getting established -- making it a resilient choice for borders, meadows, and naturalized areas. Its prolific blooms attract a wide variety of pollinators, including several specialist bees, supporting a healthy ecosystem in the garden.

In addition to its ornamental appeal, flat-top aster is the primary host plant for Harris' checkerspot butterfly caterpillars, further enhancing its value in sustainable, eco-friendly landscapes. With its airy, late-season flowers and multi-season interest, Doellingeria umbellata is a versatile and captivating native perennial that deserves a place in many gardens.

Pros

• Reliable flat-topped clusters of white, late-season blooms when many perennials are done
• Key host plant for Harris' checkerspot butterfly caterpillars
• Supports several specialist native bees as well as generalist pollinators
• Drought-tolerant once established and generally unpalatable to deer

Cons

• Spreads by rhizomes and self-seeding; may need dividing every few years to control spread
• Can look unkempt without staking or deadheading
• Young plants are sometimes browsed by deer and rabbits and may need protection while establishing

Flat-Top Aster grows wild in wet to moist sand prairies, fens, seeps, and woodland openings, including sandy, calcareous wetlands near Lake Michigan. It's the primary host plant for Harris' checkerspot butterfly caterpillars, and its flowers draw an unusually broad range of pollinators -- honeybees, bumblebees, numerous solitary bees (including four specialist species), wasps, flies, and beetles. American tree sparrows and ruffed grouse eat the seeds, and grouse browse the foliage too.

• Native to moist prairies, meadows, and fens across the eastern and north-central U.S., including the Chicago region
• Primary host plant for Harris' checkerspot butterfly
• One of the earlier-blooming asters, starting in midsummer rather than fall

Plant Data

Prefers consistently moist to occasionally wet soil but tolerates average garden moisture and some drought once established.

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with other moisture-loving native perennials such as swamp milkweed and Joe Pye weed, and with earlier-blooming perennials it can follow for extended seasonal interest.