Native Plants
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Symphyotrichum lateriflorum
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (L.) Á. Löve & D. Löve
Calico Aster
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: SYLA4
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
Several small flower heads of white or pale purple ray flowers surrounding yellow or purple disc flowers are on one side of straggly, divergent branches.
This is one of a group of closely related white, narrow-leaved asters that presumably interbreed and are difficult to distinguish. The common name refers to the fact that the heads are at first yellow and later turn purplish-red, so that flowers on one plant and even a single head may include both colors at the same time.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Pink , Yellow , PurpleBloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WVCanada: MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Distribution: Ontario to Nova Scotia south through New England to Georgia; west to Tennessee and Arkansas; north to Minnesota.
Native Habitat: Fields, thickets.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunBenefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesValue to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesSupports Conservation Biological Control
This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FAC | FACW | FACW | FACW | FAC |
Bibliography
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Symphyotrichum lateriflorum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Symphyotrichum lateriflorum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Symphyotrichum lateriflorum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-01-20Research By: TWC Staff