White Heath Aster

White Heath Aster is a native plant that loves dry, sandy soils and open sites and is an all-around wildlife-supporting superstar. The tiny white daisies bloom late in the summer and last through early fall to support late-season pollinators, plus larvae from the pearl Crescent Butterfly, and other small mammals that eat the foliage and seeds throughout the year. Aster ericoides ‘Snow Flurry’ is native to all parts of North America except California, Nevada, Louisiana, Florida, and Kentucky.  

White Heath Aster is low growing and compact and provides excellent ground cover in areas with dry, poor soil. Mix this native with other meadow flowers for a naturalized wildlife area, or use it in a container with other late-season bloomers as a filler plant. Even though Heath Aster is not deer resistant, the dense growth hides any mild browsing and will regrow quickly. Slugs and snails are rarely an issue because this plant prefers dry areas. White Heath Aster is extremely heat and humidity tolerant, and winter hardy down to USDA zone 3.

White Heath Aster Care

Heath Aster is an herbaceous perennial that prefers lots of sun and little moisture. It grows well in any soil pH, from acidic to alkaline, and will not require annual fertilizing. Water in newly planted asters well and keep the soil consistently moist until the roots are well established. Supplemental watering may occasionally be needed during extremely hot and dry summers or prolonged dry spells in the spring or fall.

White Heath Aster will only need cutting back if it has outgrown its allotted area. The spreading habit is not fast or aggressive, and the overall plant shape is more mounding than spreading. Divide asters in the fall every 3-4 years to rejuvenate flowering or thin an area of ground cover. The best season to divide is early spring, when the plant is still dormant. 

White Heath Aster Spacing

The mature size of White Heath Aster is a modest 1-3 feet high and 12-18 inches wide. Space each plant 15 inches apart when planting as a ground cover. This ensures quick coverage and weed suppression.

White Heath Aster Information