# Hairy White Oldfield Aster (*symphyotrichum pilosum*) The Hairy White Oldfield Aster is a beautiful flower that blooms in late summer and early fall. Its white petals and yellow center attract many pollinators like butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** It commonly grows in open fields, meadows, and along roadsides. - **Also known as:** Hairy Aster, Oldfield Aster, Pilosum Aster ![Hairy White Oldfield Aster](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Symphyotrichum_pilosum_pilosum_98012666.jpg&width=800) Photo: Elizabeth Ballard, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Symphyotrichum_pilosum_pilosum_98012666.jpg) ## Appearance The Hairy White Oldfield Aster has numerous small, daisy-like white flowers with yellow centers, clustered along its very hairy stems. Its lance-shaped leaves are also noticeably hairy, giving the plant a fuzzy appearance that distinguishes it from other asters. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Symphyotrichum ## Interesting facts - Its late blooms are a critical snack bar, fueling bees and butterflies before winter. - Sometimes called "Frost Aster" as it keeps blooming even after the first autumn frosts! - The name "Aster" comes from a Greek word meaning "star," just like its charming flowers! - This tough plant is often a pioneer, growing in poor soil where others struggle. ## Special abilities - **Fuzzy Armor:** Hairy White Oldfield Aster has densely hairy stems and leaves that help protect it from hungry insects and water loss. - **Late Bloomer Power:** Hairy White Oldfield Aster blooms late into fall, providing vital nectar for pollinators when other food sources are scarce. - **Root Spreader:** Hairy White Oldfield Aster can spread easily through underground stems (rhizomes) to colonize open or disturbed areas quickly. - **Wind Rider Seeds:** Hairy White Oldfield Aster has tiny seeds with fluffy parachutes that let them float on the wind to new spots. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-120 cm - **Spread:** 30-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late_summer_fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its numerous flowers for nectar and pollen in late autumn. - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — One of many native bees that pollinate its late-season blooms. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Young plants and foliage are occasionally browsed by hungry deer. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Adult butterflies feed on its nectar as they migrate south. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hairy White Oldfield Aster? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Hairy White Oldfield Aster? 30-120 cm ### How wide does Hairy White Oldfield Aster spread? 30-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on Hairy White Oldfield Aster? 1-2 cm ### When does Hairy White Oldfield Aster bloom? Late_summer_fall ### Is Hairy White Oldfield Aster edible? No ### Is Hairy White Oldfield Aster toxic? None ### What is Hairy White Oldfield Aster's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Fairlie-Poplar](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairlie-poplar) — Georgia, US · Neighborhood - [Buford Mountain Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buford-mountain-conservation-area) — Missouri, US · Nature Reserve - [Bickelhaupt Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bickelhaupt-arboretum) — Iowa, US · Botanical Garden - [Illinois Caverns State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illinois-caverns-state-natural-area) — Illinois, US · State Park - [Luverne Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/luverne-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Parc de l'Amérique-Latine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-de-lam-rique-latine) — Quebec, CA · Park [View all places to see Hairy White Oldfield Aster](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hairy-white-oldfield-aster) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Hairy White Oldfield Aster: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-white-oldfield-aster)