Symphyotrichum ericoides, or Heath Aster, is a versatile native North American perennial that offers attractive flowers and foliage throughout the growing season. This aster species typically grows 1-3 feet tall and wide, forming a bushy, upright clump of slender, branching stems. The plant's narrow, linear leaves have a heath-like appearance, giving rise to the common name. In late summer to fall, Heath Aster is adorned with an abundance of tiny, white to pale pink daisy-like flowers that create a delicate, hazy effect when massed together. These blooms attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and moths. Adaptable and low-maintenance, Symphyotrichum ericoides thrives in full sun to partial shade and a wide range of well-drained soil types, from dry to average moisture conditions. Its compact, spreading habit makes it well-suited for use as a groundcover, in rock gardens, along borders, or naturalized in meadows and prairies.
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