Size and method of spreading:
Flat-topped aster self-seeds and spreads by means of rhizomes. Plants are typically 2 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet in width.
Native geographic location and habitat: (include C-value if appropriate)
Flat-topped aster is native to the Eastern and North Central United States. C-value: 8.
Attracts birds or pollinators:
Flat-topped aster attracts various species of bees and wasps, as well as pollinating flies, beetles, and skippers. Bees that are specialist pollinators of flat-topped aster include Andrena nubecula, Andrena placata, Perdita octomaculata, and Pseudopanurgus andrenoides. Flat-topped aster is also a primary host of Harris’ checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne harrisii). The seeds are eaten by American tree sparrows and ruffed grouse, with the latter also browsing on the leaves.
Leaf description:
The leaves of flat-topped aster are often between 3 to 6 inches long and one-half to 1 inch wide, with the smallest leaves located at the bottom of the unbranched stem. Leaves are attached directly to the stem (sessile) and are long and narrow with a slightly wider and rounded base (lanceolate-elliptic or elliptic). The edges of the leaves are toothless (entire).
Flower description:
The small daisy-like flowers consist of 5 to 12 petals (ray flowers) around the center (12 to 25 disk flowers). The ray flowers are white and irregularly spaced. The disk flowers are yellow, but mature to a duller, creamy, almost white as the bloom fades. Each flower head is approximately one-half to three-quarters of an inch across. The base of each flower head has awl-shaped bracts that occur in three to four layers. The only branched portions of flat-topped aster are the stems of the flowers, with the lower flower stems longer than the upper stems of each group of flowers, giving the groups the appearance of a flat-top (compound corymb).
Fruit description:
Like other species of aster, the fruit of flat-topped aster are small, dry, and attached to whitish hair tufts (achenes) that allow the wind to carry them. Unique to flat-topped aster are the unevenness of the hairs attached to the fruit, with the outermost hairs shorter and the inner hairs longer.
