Virginia ecotype
Duration: Perennial
Habit: Upright, arching, spreading, naturalizing
Size: Typically 1 to 2.5 feet tall; spreads about 1.5 to 3 feet wide
Flowering Time: August to October
Bloom Color: White rays with yellow to purplish centers
Habitat: Open woodlands, woodland edges, shaded slopes, and dry forests
Moisture: Average to dry; prefers well-drained soils
Light: Part shade to full shade
Soils: Sandy, loamy or rocky soils; tolerates poor or dry soils.; intolerant of poor draining wet clay soils
Uses: Shade gardens, woodland borders, naturalized plantings, pollinator support, groundcover under trees
Eurybia divaricata (White wood-aster)
Eurybia divaricata, or white wood-aster, is a resilient native perennial aster well-suited to dry, shady gardens. It typically grows 1 to 2.5 feet tall with gracefully arching, dark purplish stems that carry delicate white, star-like flowers. Blooming from late summer into fall, it brings light and life to the shade of understories when few other plants are flowering.
Its compact form and ability to naturalize make it an excellent groundcover choice for woodland edges and under trees where other plants may struggle. It spreads widely through rhizomes and reseeding in loose, sandy or loamy soils, to form a colony in time.
Ecologically, white wood aster is a valuable late-season nectar source for native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Eurybia support specialist bees. It is also a host plant for the pearl crescent butterfly (Phyciodes tharos) and other Lepidoptera species that rely on asters during their larval stages.
In addition to its support for pollinators, Eurybia divaricata provides cover for small wildlife and contributes to overall woodland biodiversity. Its adaptability to dry shade and ability to thrive in low-fertility soils make it a standout for ecological and low-maintenance landscaping.