Plant Profile

Flat-Topped Aster - (Doellingeria umbellata) is a native wildflower that enjoys sandy prairies, but they are known to also be found near moist fields, thickets, and the border of swamps. Its range is throughout the Upper Midwest and Eastern US. The clusters of white composite flowers appear from July-Oct.

A wide variety of pollinators are attracted to the nectar and pollen of the flowers. These species include long- and short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, beetles and butterflies. But, larger animals, like swamp sparrows, wild turkey, white-tailed deer and cottontail rabbits, also enjoy the foliage of the plant so keep it caged in the early years of establishment.

This plant prefers a slightly acidic sandy loam that is moist to occasionally wet in full sun to partial shade. Use in groups for best effect around water sites, in naturalized meadows or pollinator gardens. It will naturalize by self-seeding and underground rhizomes.