Sericocarpus linifolius – Narrowleaf Whitetop Aster – 1-Pint

Although they look more or less like the asters that gardeners are familiar with, members of the genus Sericocarpus actually are more closely related to goldenrods than they are to asters. Even so, the common name has stuck with them. They do tend to have fewer ray flowers (what are often thought of as petals), making them a little less showy, but also a little more …charming, perhaps? They share with asters a high value for wildlife, attracting lots of pollinators and seed-eating birds. This particular species has a primarily coastal distribution from New Hampshire to South Carolina, though further south it also ranges up into the Appalachian Mountains. It’s threatened in New York, occurring only on Long Island and around New York City. It grows in dry woodlands, woodland margins and sunny meadows needing a well-drained soil to thrive. It’s much more stiffly upright than most asters making it good candidate for a xeriscape or sunny formal border.