Doellingeria umbellata, Tall Flat-Top Aster, Quart Pot

Doellingeria umbellata, Tall Flat-Top Aster

FS-PS, Zone 3, Blooms July-Sept, Wet - Medium, 5’ x 1-3’

Flat-topped Aster, Doellingeria umbellata, formerly Aster umbellatus, is a perennial, early bloomer in the Aster family, flowering in July with clusters of white petals and yellow center disks. As a plant ages, the color will dull, paling to a yellowish tan. The alternately-attached leaves are simple, rounded, toothless spears with short hairs that add texture. Flat-topped Aster begins to bloom in July, much earlier than most Asters, and is rhizomatous, meaning it spreads by underground rhizomes as well as by seed.

This beautiful plant enjoys wet-to-moist, sandy prairies in full sunlight. Animals, like swamp sparrows, wild turkey, white-tailed deer and cottontail rabbits, also enjoy the foliage of the plant so keep it caged in the early years of establishment.

A wide variety of pollinators are attracted to the nectar and pollen of the flowers. These species include long- and short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, beetles and butterflies.