White Wood Aster Traditional Cache

White Wood Asters are on both sides of the track here. You can park one car at the start of the track. This is a P&G.

White Wood Aster

Eurybia divaricata (formerly Aster divaricatus), commonly known as the white wood aster, is an herbaceous plant native to eastern North America. It occurs in the eastern United States, primarily in the Appalachian mountains, though it is also present in southeastern Canada, but only in about 25 populations in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. In the U.S. it is abundant and common, but in Canada it is considered threatened due to its restricted distribution. It can be found in dry open woods as well as along wood-edges and clearings. The species is distinguished by its flower heads that have yellow centers and white rays that are arranged in flat-topped corymbiform arrays, emerging in the late summer through fall. Other distinguishing characteristics include its serpentine stems and sharply serrated narrow heart-shaped leaves. The white wood aster is sometimes used in cultivation in both North America and Europe due to it being quite tough and for its showy flowers.

Similar species

Several different plants are superficially quite similar to the white wood aster, but close examination as well as knowledge of the plants' differing habitats and ranges can readily distinguish them. The most similar species is the mountain wood aster (Eurybia Chporoleis), which was previously considered conspecfic with E. divaricata.

Another species commonly confused with the white wood aster is Schreber's aster (Eurybia schreberi). Schreber's aster is typically found on moister soils, though it can also be found on mesic sites.

Two more superficially similar plants include the bigleaf aster (Eurybia macrophylla) and the heartleaf aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium), though both usually have blue or pale blue rays, while those of E. divaricata are always white.

Distribution and habitat

Eurybia divaricata is present primarily in the Appalachian maountains in eastern North America, with some populations in adjacent lowlands. It can be found on dry to mesic sites in eastern deciduous and mixed deciduous woods as well as on edges, clearings, and roadsides. It is most common at altitudes ranging from 0 to 1,200 metres (0 to 3,937 ft), though it can be found as high as 1,700 metres (5,600 feet). In Canada, it is present in Ontario and Quebec, while in the United States it can be found in all states from Maine south as far as Alabama and west to Ohio and Kentucky. It also has been introduced to Europe, particularly to the Netherlands.

The species is known from only 25 locations in Canada, and is considered threatened.

Cultivation

While the white wood aster does not compare in popularity to the other cultivated asters, such as the New England aster, it does have its niche, especially in North American native gardens. The plant flowers earlier than many other asters, does not require any staking to support it and flowers well in shade. It is attractive to gardeners due to its showy white flowers that emerge in mid to late summer, its prostate habit, as well as its hardiness and the minimal maintenance it requires. It has little problem with both disease and insects. They do require partial shade, however, and they perform best when given about 4 hours of sunlight. The plants can be cut to 20 cm (8 in) in the spring in order to delay flowering and increase the number of branches. It is marginally hardy in USDA zone 3, and fully hardy from zones 4 to 8. It is commonly available in North American nurseries and several cultivars have been selected, including:

The cache is a tied in, camoed, "micro" pill bottle. You'll see the arrows on the lid to show that it's a "Push hard to open and close" kind. Please BYOP and put everything back as you found it, with the rubber band, no longer on your finger, but around the log and the bag tightly sealed. Please re-camo nicely.