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Eurybia macrophylla

large-leaved aster

Asteraceae Eastern North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 3–8

Overview

Eurybia macrophylla is a rhizomatous perennial that forms broad colonies of large basal leaves, sending up flowering stems 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall in late summer. The basal leaves are heart-shaped, 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) long, with coarsely toothed margins, rough upper surfaces, and long petioles; the stem leaves are smaller and short-stalked. Flat-topped clusters of flower heads top each stem, with 9-20 pale violet to white ray florets surrounding a center of yellow disk florets that age to reddish-purple. Many plants in a colony produce only the large leaves, with relatively few stems flowering in a given year. It grows in dry to moist deciduous and mixed woodland, forming a dominant ground layer in northern hardwood forests across eastern North America. The thick rhizomes spread to make dense, weed-suppressing mats. In deep shade flowering is sparse, and the spreading habit can overtake smaller plants in a border.

Native Range

Eurybia macrophylla is native to eastern North America, from Quebec and Ontario south through the Appalachians to Georgia and west to Minnesota. It grows in dry to moist deciduous and mixed woodlands.

Suggested Uses

Used as a ground cover for dry shade, in woodland gardens, and beneath trees, spaced 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart. Its late flowers are a nectar source for bees and butterflies in native plantings. The spreading mats suit naturalized rather than formal settings.

How to Identify

Identify it by large heart-shaped basal leaves with rough surfaces and long petioles, forming extensive ground-covering colonies. Late-summer stems bear flat-topped clusters of flower heads with pale violet to white rays and yellow centers that redden with age. The big basal leaves separate it from most other North American asters.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering occurs in late summer and autumn, from August to October, after most spring and midsummer perennials have finished. Flat-topped clusters open over several weeks. The yellow disk florets darken to reddish-purple as they age.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pale violet to white with yellow centers

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Tolerates up to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in part shade to full shade in well-drained soil; it tolerates dry shade and competition from tree roots once established. Average to low moisture suits it, and overly rich or wet ground reduces its drought tolerance. It is hardy in USDA zones 3-8 and dies back to the rhizomes each winter. Spreading rhizomes form wide colonies, which can be lifted and divided in spring to control spread or propagate it. Flowering is heaviest where the plants receive a few hours of sun. No supplemental feeding is needed in woodland soil.

Pruning

Spent flowering stems are cut to the ground in late autumn or winter. Dividing the rhizomes in spring contains the colony and renews growth. No other pruning is required.

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic