Calico aster is a late-blooming native aster that adapts easily to many soil and light conditions and is great for naturalizing. The individual daisy-like flowers are small, but with dozens or hundreds of blossoms adorning every branch, this species uses high floral abundance to attract swarms of bees and butterflies for a late season feast. According to the Xerces Society, calico aster’s shallow nectaries attract more insect diversity than some larger-flowered aster species, and they include this species as one of 16 on their list of Northeast Pollinator Plants. The white flowers are recognizable by their “calico” appearance, owing to the central disks, which change color as they mature and are commonly yellow and purple on the same plant. Plants typically only grow to 2-3’ tall, but when grown in full sun with good space, they can get quite bushy with strong stems.
LOCAL ECOTYPE
Calico aster is a late-blooming native aster that adapts easily to many soil and light conditions and is great for naturalizing. The individual daisy-like flowers are small, but with dozens or hundreds of blossoms adorning every branch, this species uses high floral abundance to attract swarms of bees and butterflies for a late season feast. According to the Xerces Society, calico aster’s shallow nectaries attract more insect diversity than some larger-flowered aster species, and they include this species as one of 16 on their list of Northeast Pollinator Plants. The white flowers are recognizable by their “calico” appearance, owing to the central disks, which change color as they mature and are commonly yellow and purple on the same plant. Plants typically only grow to 2-3’ tall, but when grown in full sun with good space, they can get quite bushy with strong stems.
LOCAL ECOTYPE
Height: 2-3’
Bloom Time: late summer to fall
Light: full sun, part shade, shade
Soil: medium-wet, average, medium-dry
Establishment: easy, will spread by self-seeding
Deer Resistance: high
Pollinator Support: very high
Other: host plant for pearl crescent butterfly, silvery checkerspot butterfly
Native Range: local ecotype
Seed Origin: Dutchess County, NY
