Plant Profile

Hairy Aster - (Symphyotrichum pilosum), also known as Frost Aster, is a native herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae (Daisy) family that may grow up to 4 feet tall and wide. Frost aster prefers full sun and grows well in wet or dry conditions and in rocky or sandy soils.

The leaves are alternate with a smooth margin. Both the stem and leaves are covered with fine hairs lending it the common name Hairy. The roots are fibrous and form a woody crown. Showy delicate, white flowers daisy-ike with a yellow center first mature in late summer and persist into late fall providing a seed source to song birds over the winter. Its other common name Frost Aster comes from its tendency to be the last asters to bloom.

Hairy Aster attracts pollinators like butterflies and bees, and the seeds provide a food source for birds and small mammals through the fall and winter. Making this aster an excellent addition to a pollinator or winter garden.