Sericocarpus asteroides aka Toothed Whitetop Aster

Sericocarpus asteroides has the common name toothed whitetop aster. It belongs to the aster family, Asteraceae. This herbaceous perennial is a nonwoody plant that lives for years. It grows wild in the eastern and southeastern United States. Kew lists its native range from southern Maine to southeastern South Carolina. North Carolina records place most plants on the Coastal Plain. It also grows in the state's Piedmont. In the wild, it grows in dry woods and grasslands. Older names include Aster paternus.

Plants grow about 0.7–2 feet [0.2–0.6 metres] tall. Short rhizomes, or underground stems, spread and form upright clumps. The plant grows at a moderate rate. Its round, green stems have hairs but no scent. Green leaves grow in an alternate pattern along the stems. They feel like leather and have hairs. Basal leaves, at the plant's base, have toothed edges. Their shapes vary: some widen toward the tip. Others have a spoon shape. These leaves reach 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] long. Narrow stem leaves have smooth edges and no stalks.

In summer, tight groups of flowers grow at stem tips. These groups form a corymb, with several heads per stem. Each head measures about 0.04 feet [0.013 metres] across. Four to eight white ray florets ring the central disk. The disk holds 11–20 small florets shaped like tubes. These may be white or have a pink tint. Each flower head has a star-like shape. Bees and butterflies visit the heads. Small fruits called achenes follow and make a fall display. Thick tufts of fine, silk-like hairs crown each fruit. The hairs range from pale red to reddish brown or purple.

Grow this aster in partial sun or shade. Use soil that drains well, with dry to average moisture. It suits loam, sand, and shallow, rocky soil. NC State lists acid, neutral, and alkaline soils as suitable. Its profile gives USDA hardiness zones 6–9. It also notes that the plant copes with humidity. Low care needs suit woodland and native plant gardens. Plant it along borders or in small groups. Its summer blooms suit gardens for butterflies and other pollinators.

NC State reports no major pest or disease concerns. The supplied sources list no food uses and do not assess safety. They do not show whether people or pets can eat it safely.