Eurybia divaricata aka Common White Heart Leaf Aster

Eurybia divaricata is also known as white wood aster. It is part of the daisy family. Its home range spans eastern Canada and the United States. It grows in dry, open woods, including the Appalachian mountains. Past names include Aster divaricatus and Aster corymbosus. It is a herbaceous perennial: a soft-stemmed plant that lives for years. It sheds its leaves for winter. It forms upright, bushy clumps. It spreads by rhizomes, which are stems that grow underground.

Garden plants reach about 1–3.3 feet (0.3–1 metre) tall. They spread 1.5–3.3 feet (0.45–1 metre) wide. They grow fast and reach full size in two to five years. Hairy stems bend in a zigzag shape. They range from green or red to near-black. Green leaves grow one at a time along the stems. Their edges have teeth. Leaves at the base have heart-shaped bases. These leaves wither when the plant starts to bloom. Upper leaves have no stalks and become oval or lance-shaped. Fine hairs coat the leaves beneath.

Small flower heads grow in flat-topped groups above the leaves. White rays ring yellow centres. The centres turn red once pollen reaches them. Some centres have pink tones. Most accounts give bloom times from August into September or October. Chicago Botanic Garden notes blooms in July too. Brown, oval fruits called achenes follow the blooms. Each has stiff bristles. These fruits appear from September through November. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds through fall and winter. Bees and butterflies feed at the flowers. Pearl Crescent butterfly larvae also use the plant as a host.

Part shade suits this aster. It copes with deep shade too. The RHS also lists full sun as a good choice. Give it soil that drains well and is not too rich. It accepts clay, loam, sand, and shallow rocky ground. Sources list dry to moist soil as suitable. Once rooted, plants cope with drought. Poor drainage can cause trouble. It grows in USDA zones 3–8 and holds RHS rating H7. Soil can be acid, neutral, or alkaline. Deer tend to leave it alone.

Use it in woodland beds or shaded borders. It suits native gardens, cottage gardens, and gardens for pollinators. It can spread to cover ground beneath taller plants. You can cut the flowers for use indoors. It needs little care and has few serious pest problems. Powdery mildew can occur. Leave space for air to flow between plants. Aster wilt may arise in clay that drains poorly. Divide plants in spring, or grow new ones from seed. You can also cut plants back once blooms fade.