This perennial grows in a cluster of erect leafy stems from creeping rhizomes. The leaves are toothed oblong to narrowly elliptic and reach lengths of 4 in (10 cm) near the bottom of the plant and smaller near the top. The rather lanky stems are either covered in short hairs or smooth and topped with bluish-purple flowers resembling miniature daisies, blooming mid-summer to mid-fall. Flowers create an abundance of feathery seeds, dispersed by wind, and will self-seed freely once established.
Ecology: typically a coastal species found in moist lowland habitats such as streambanks, seashores, salt and fresh marshes, ditches, meadows, and clearings at low elevations.
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Hardiness | 4,5,6 |
| Heat Zones | 4,5 |
| Climate Zones | 4, 5, 6 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Aster |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring, Summer, Early Summer, Mid Summer, Late Summer |
| Height | 2' - 3' |
| Spread | 1' - 2' |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Maintenance | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Acid |
| Characteristics | Attracts Butterflies |
| Garden Styles | Coastal Garden |
| Planting Place | Beds and Borders |