Symphyotrichum ericoides (Heath Aster)

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Where Commonly Found: Grasslands, meadows, fields, CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT
How to Identify:
(For unfamiliar words: Wikipedia Glossary of Botanical Terms).
Go Botany Key to Symphyotrichum ericoides.
Missouri Botanical Garden webpage for Symphyotrichum eridoies
Flower Type: Daisy-like, plentiful, compound, scentless, flowers appear in August to September.  Each flower is less than 1/2″ across with about 12 white ray florets around numerous yellow disk florets.  Numerous needle-like green bracts on the flowering stem give a heath-like appearance.
Leaf Arrangement:  Alternate leaves on hairy stems that start green and age to brown.
Leaf Type:  Linear, smooth edged and often finely pubescent leaves are up to 3″ long and 1/4″ across near the base of the plants and less than 1″ long and 1/8″ across near the flowering stems.
Height:  1′-3′
Seed Collection:  Little seeds with tufts of white hairs allow wind distribution.  Capture seeds in a bag before they disperse.

Attracts:  Bees, Butterflies
Use:  Garden
Light:  Full Sun
Hardiness Zone:  3 to 10   USDA Zone Map
Soils:  Dry to Moist
Notes:  Symphyotrichum ericoides (Heath Aster) is a nice, compact, busy aster with stiff heath-like leaves and a profusion of white delicate flowers.
Native to nearly all of the US:  Biota of North America Program (BONAP) – North America Plant Atlas (NAPA).