Spreading plant with tiny white composite flowers

9 years ago

I'm near Boston. The plant is probably about five feet across, and just appeared in my garden this year. I thought it was a phlox coming up this spring, which is why I didn't pull it. By the time August rolled around, I figured I'd wait until it bloomed and see what the heck it turned out to be, before ripping it out.

The stems seem to turn dark red with age. Flowers look like Erigeron, but the habit is much bigger and more spreading. It just started blooming today. The spot it's in gets mostly sun.

Flower closeup:
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Stem (sorry about the phlox and rudbeckia in the background):
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Wider picture:
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Any ideas? Thanks!

Comments (7)

RugbyHukr
9 years ago
maybe Symphyotrichum ericoides?
pitimpinai
9 years ago
I used to know it as Aster ericoides. When did the genus change to Symphyotrichum?
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Iris GW
9 years ago
A while ago. All the native asters got put in different places (several) and the old world asters got to keep the Aster genus name.
pitimpinai
9 years ago
Thanks, esh_ga.
nekobus
Original Author
9 years ago
Looks like that's probably it. Dug it out, and boy did it have runners going everywhere. Thanks guys!
dbarron
9 years ago
It could also be Boltonia asteroides, which incidentally I think it still is :) (not renamed yet.....)
Probably not good for a formal flower bed...great in a mass planting or a prairie restoration, in either case.

Butterflies love all asters and boltonias though...so it does have worth there too. I've seen migrating monarchs flock to them.

This post was edited by dbarron on Wed, Sep 10, 14 at 8:12
fatamorgana2121
9 years ago
Nekobus - I get a number of weedy asters, including the same one, in the gardens. You'll have to be diligent and keep pulling in successive seasons. They are garden thugs that spread easily by runners as you noted. Identifying them young will help.

FataMorgana

ps...like the name. A Totoro fan too? ;)