Specimen record
White Wood Aster
Eurybia divaricata
Description
One of the few asters that thrives in dry shade, white wood aster produces loose, flat-topped clusters of small white flower heads with yellow disk flowers that turn reddish-purple with age. It is an abundant late-season wildflower of dry deciduous forests and woodland trails. The distinctive dark, wiry, zigzagging stems and heart-shaped lower leaves make this species easy to recognize.
Identification tips
- 1Small white flower heads with only 5–9 ray flowers per head
- 2Disk flowers yellow at first, aging to reddish-purple
- 3Dark, wiry stems that zigzag slightly between nodes
- 4Lower leaves heart-shaped with coarsely toothed margins and long petioles
- 5Grows in dry deciduous shade — one of few asters in deep forest
Specimen & preservation notes
Press a stem with the flat-topped flower cluster and at least one heart-shaped basal leaf. The wiry zigzag stem is diagnostic — arrange it to show this feature. White rays preserve well. Include both fresh (yellow disk) and older (purple disk) flower heads if possible.
Habitats
Collection calendar
| Wk | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||
| 3 | ||||||||
| 4 |
Collection notes
Season check
Observed bloom also extends into August and October.
Flowering records: 357 iNaturalist observations, Massachusetts · Nearby: 952 observations within 25 km