Rice button aster, Bushy aster
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Symphyotrichum dumosum
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Asteraceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida. |
Description: |
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Medium herbaceous wildflower. |
Height: |
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Typically 2-4 feet in height. |
Growth Rate: |
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Moderate to fast. |
Range: |
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Widespread in eastern North America west to Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys. |
Habitats: |
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Pinelands, prairies and disturbed sites. |
Soils: |
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Moist to wet, moderately well-drained to well-drained, sandy or limestone soils, without humusy top layer. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun to light shade. |
Flower Color: |
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White or blue. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Showy. |
Flowering Season: |
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Spring-fall. |
Fruit: |
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Inconspicuous achene. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Larval host plant for pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos) butterflies. Attracts butterflies, native bees, and other pollinators. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed. |
Comments: |
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See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page. |
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