| Elliott’s aster
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| Symphyotrichum elliottii
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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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Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida. |
| Description: |
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Medium to large herbaceous wildflower. |
| Height: |
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2-3 feet; to 4 feet or more when in flower. |
| Growth Rate: |
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Moderate. |
| Range: |
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Southeastern United States south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties. |
| Habitats: |
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Swamps, marshes, hammocks and wet pine rocklands. |
| Soils: |
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Seasonally wet, well-drained to moderately well-drained sandy soils, with or without humusy or organic top layer. |
| Nutritional Requirements: |
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Moderate to low. |
| Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate 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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Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought. |
| Light Requirements: |
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Light to moderate shade. |
| Flower Color: |
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White |
| Flower Characteristics: |
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Showy. |
| Flowering Season: |
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Summer-fall. |
| Fruit: |
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Inconspicuous achene. |
| Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Attracts native bees and other beneficial insects. |
| 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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