White Panicled Aster vs Small White Aster
This guide is under construction and has not been published yet. It may have errors. When in doubt, double-check other sources for definitive ID.These species are often confused, especially in photos that do not show the whole plant. Both favor wet sites and can be long-rhizomatous. They are usually easy to tell apart in-person as S. lanceolatum is a larger plant with larger leaves and flowerheads. S. lanceolatum ranges much farther north and west, tolerates greater shade, and is more restricted to moist, rich habitats. S. racemosum has a more restricted range and is restricted to sunnier habitats, but tolerates poorer soil and is more tolerant of temporary drought.
White Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum) | Small White Aster (Symphyotrichum racemosum) |
A tall, perennial aster of moist, partly-sunny areas. Native to a wide range in North America, coast to coast; common and abundant in much of the northeast and midwest. Often forms large vegetative colonies. |
References & External Resources
These short lists show only links helpful for ID. For a complete list of references and resources also covering other aspects of ecology, visit the links section of the full article on each plant, which is the first entry here.
