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Heath aster is a variable species. The flowers may be white or pale pink; they may be sparse or they may be packed together along the stems. There are several other asters with small white flowers and a bushy growth pattern; identifying the species can be difficult, even with a field guide in hand. A good marker for heath aster is the bracts beneath the flower heads. They have fairly blunt points, and they spread out from the base (see the third image). Other species of small-flowered white aster have bracts that are either sharply pointed, or pressed against the base, or both.

The asters with small, white flowers can be tricky to identify. For help distinguishing the species, we recommend the web site Asters of New England.

• Family: Aster (Asteraceae)
• Habitat: dry open sites
• Height: 1-3 feet
• Flower size: flowerheads around 1/2 inch across
• Flower color: white or pinkish ray flowers around a yellow to reddish disk
• Flowering time: July to October
• Origin: native