Lucas Land
White Wood Aster
Symphyotrichum divaricatum
This is a 2 ft. tall, loose, sprawling American-aster with clusters of bright, white flowers. The tiny but numerous flowers have yellow centers and white petals that fade to dark pink. Wiry, black, drooping stems may be 3 ft. in length. Large, heart-shaped leaves become gradually smaller toward the top of the plant.
Comments: This white aster is a typical late summer-early fall bloomer in open woodlands. Among the related species in the East, the taller Bigleaf Aster (Eurybia macrophylla) has large, thick, rough leaves, lavender flowers, and rough, glandular flower stalks. When very young, its leaves may be cooked and eaten as greens. Both species used to be in the genus Aster.