Walter’s aster

Pictured above: Walter’s aster (Symphyotrichum walteri) by Mary Keim. Click on terms for botanical definitions. View post as a PDF.

Walter’s aster is an herbaceous perennial wildflower found in sandhills and pine flatwoods. It blooms in late fall and early winter, providing nectar and pollen to butterflies, bees and other pollinators at a time when floral resources are limited.

The compound flowers of Walter’s aster consist of many lavender ray florets surrounding a center of yellow to reddish tubular disk florets. The base of the flowerhead is cupped in green, sepal-like bracts. Stem leaves are small, linear to  hastate, and sessile, with acute tips and entire margins. Leaves often curve away from the stem. Leaf arrangement is generally alternate but may be somewhat spiraled. Stems are rough, branched and may be decumbent or erect. Fruits are specialized achenes called cypselae.

The species epithet walteri is an homage to British botanist Thomas Walter (c. 1740–1789), author of Flora Caroliniana, the first North American flora resource to utilize the Linnean binomial taxonomic naming system.

Members of the Symphyotrichum genus were once classified in the genus Aster, which contained over 600 species. All have since been reclassified into 10 different genera. The genus name Symphyotrichum is from the Greek sýmphysis, meaning “growing together,” and thríx, or “hair.” It refers to a basal ring of hairs or bristles (pappi) thought to occur on New England aster (Aster novi-belgii, now Symphyotrichum novi-belgii); however, this characteristic is absent in most modern Symphyotrichum species.

Family: Asteraceae (Aster, composite or daisy family)
Native range: Scattered throughout many Central and North Florida counties
To see where natural populations of Walter’s aster have been vouchered, visit florida.plantatlas.usf.edu.
Lifespan: Perennial
Soil: Dry to moist, well-drained sandy soils
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Growth habit: Up to 2′ tall when flowering

Walter’s aster is not commercially available. Visit a natural area to see it.

For information on other Symphyotrichum species, see these resources:

Eastern silver aster

Eastern silver aster (Symphyotrichum concolor) is a winsome wildflower found in Florida’s pineland habitats. It typically blooms in fall but may bloom in summer and early winter.

Read more… Eastern silver aster

Calico aster

Calico aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum) is a lovely fall-blooming aster that occurs in a wide variety of habitats — from forests to marshes and wet prairies — and ranges across Eastern and into Central North America.

Read more… Calico aster

Simmond’s aster

Simmond’s aster (Symphyotrichum simmondsii) is endemic to the Southeastern Coastal Plain and while recorded from the Carolinas to Alabama, it is most prevalent throughout peninsular Florida.

Read more… Simmond’s aster

Perennial saltmarsh aster

Perennial saltmarsh aster (Symphyotrichum tenuifolium) is one of the few large-flowered species present among the grasses and rushes of the salt marsh. It plays an important ecological role for native bees!

Read more… Perennial saltmarsh aster

Scaleleaf aster

Scaleleaf aster (Symphyotrichum adnatum) is hardly noticeable when not in bloom. But in late fall and early winter, its copious periwinkle blooms make for a showy display.

Read more… Scaleleaf aster

Georgia aster

Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum) is a magnet for bees and butterflies. Its flowers are distinguishable from other Symphyotrichum species by their relatively large size and deep violet-colored ray petals.

Read more… Georgia aster

Rice button aster

Rice button aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum) is a profuse bloomer with small flowers that attract a plethora of pollinators including butterflies and native bees.

Read more… Rice button aster

Elliott’s aster

Elliott’s aster (Symphyotrichum elliottii) is a perennial wildflower and wonderful plant for attracting butterflies, bees and other pollinators due to its many fragrant blooms.

Read more… Elliott’s aster