- Scientific name: Symphyotrichum concolor
- Species of Greatest Conservation Need (MA State Wildlife Action Plan)
- Endangered (MA Endangered Species Act)
Description
Eastern silvery aster is a slender, lilac-flowered perennial in the Aster family (Compositae or Asteraceae). It grows from about 3-10 dm (0.75-3.5 ft) in height. Its stems are simple or sparingly branched and rise either singly or in small groups from a frequently thickened root crown. The rather densely arranged leaves are stalkless, smooth-margined, oblong or lanceolate, and slightly clasping at the base. They measure up to 1.5 cm (0.6 in) wide by 5 cm (2 in) long; however, toward the top of the stem, they become gradually smaller. Eastern silvery aster’s common name comes from the pale coating of silky hairs on both sides of the leaves. The achenes (dry, one-seeded fruits) are silky, as well. The flower heads occur in narrow racemes (elongate, unbranched inflorescences of stalked flowers) or, occasionally, in panicles (branched racemes). Each head has 8-16 showy lilac rays. Eastern silvery aster blooms from September to early October.
The showy aster (Eurybia spectabilis) occupies similar habitats (e.g., sites on dry, sandy soil in open woodlands) and is somewhat similar in appearance to the eastern silvery aster. However, its basal leaves have long stalks, while the leaves of eastern silvery aster are stalkless. Furthermore, showy aster’s flowers are bright violet-purple. Eastern silvery aster’s lilac-colored flowers make it unique among the asters in our area.
Life cycle and behavior
This is a perennial species.
Population status
Eastern silvery aster is currently listed as Endangered in Massachusetts. Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program database has 16 records from 2 counties: Nantucket and Dukes. Eight of those records are within the last 25-year period. Eastern silvery aster is also considered rare in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Kentucky. It was present historically in Rhode Island and Delaware.
Distribution and abundance
The documented range of eastern silvery aster encompasses the coastal states, from Massachusetts south to Florida and Louisiana and west to southwestern Texas. Eastern silvery aster may also grow in the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee.
Habitat
In general, eastern silvery aster occurs on dry, sandy soil in open woods and barrens. In Massachusetts, it is usually found on dry open sandplains or "moors," occasionally among pine trees. The plant was once common on the moors of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Associated species include bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), bushy aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum), bayberry (Morella [= Myrica] pensylvanica), black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), and late lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium). Rare and uncommon Massachusetts plants that have been found with eastern silvery aster include sandplain flax (Linum intercursum), bushy rockrose (Helianthemum dumosum), sandplain blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium fuscatum, special concern), purple cudweed (Gamochaeta purpurea, endangered), New England blazing star (Liatris novae-angliae, special concern), and Nantucket shadbush (Amelanchier nantucketensis).
Healthy habitats are vital for supporting native wildlife and plants. Explore habitats and learn about conservation and restoration in Massachusetts.
Threats
Reasons for the plant's rarity in the state include loss of habitat due to encroachment by scrub oak (Quercus ilicifolia) and by pine-oak forest; in part, this loss is due to excessive fire exclusion and lack of disturbance. In addition, Massachusetts is at the northern edge of the plant's range.
Conservation
References
Contact
| Date published: | May 7, 2025 |
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