Showy aster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Showy aster |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
The Eurybia spectabilis, often called the showy aster or purple wood aster, is a beautiful plant. It is a type of herbaceous perennial plant. This means it has soft stems and lives for more than two years. You can find it growing naturally in the eastern United States.
What is the Showy Aster?
This plant is known for its bright and colorful flowers. They usually appear in the fall season. The flowers have two main parts. The outer petals, called ray florets, are a lovely violet-purple color. The center of the flower, called disc florets, is bright yellow. This combination makes the flower very "showy," which is how it got its name!
The showy aster is also special because it is one of the parent plants for another plant. This other plant is a mix, or hybrid, called Eurybia × herveyi.
Where Does the Showy Aster Grow?
You can find the showy aster mainly along the coastal plain of eastern North America. Its natural home stretches from Massachusetts and New York in the north. It goes all the way south to South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.
Preferred Habitats
This plant loves to grow in dry, sandy soils. Sometimes, you might also find it in dry clay soil. It can grow in many different places. These include oak-pine woods, pine barrens, and even peat bogs. You might also spot it near granite rocks.
Showy asters grow from sea level up to about 900 meters (3,000 feet) high. They are often seen along the edges of forests, in open fields, and next to roads. Even though it grows in many places, it is considered rare or endangered in some states. This is why it's important to protect its natural homes.
