How big does Heath aster grow?

About 80 cm × 60 cm after ten years (height × width).

What soil does Heath aster grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy.

Is Heath aster hardy?

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Heath aster toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

When does Heath aster flower?

Flowering: August–October, white, pink, blue.

How much water does Heath aster need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Heath aster

Aster ericoides

Heath aster (Aster ericoides) is a perennial that reaches 80 cm × 60 cm after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Non-toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €8.90.

Illustration of Heath aster — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A densely branched aster from the North American prairies with tiny, heather-like leaves, covered in September and October by clouds of very small white daisies, pale pink or bluish in some varieties. It suits sunny, lean, dry spots where other asters struggle: it copes well with drought and does not get mildew. Taller varieties can flop, so keep it out of rich, watered soil, and next to semi-natural land cut the spent stems down before it sheds seed.

Watch out for

No serious pests or diseases, and it resists powdery mildew. Taller varieties grow lanky and flop in rich or watered soil and may need support; the crown can rot in heavy soil that stays wet in winter. In the wild the species forms colonies by rhizomes and also seeds itself. In Central Europe several North American asters have escaped from gardens and become abundant along rivers, and the Hungarian nature conservation list of invasive plants covers them at genus level (Aster spp.); it does not name the heath aster itself (it names the lance-leaved, New York and willow-leaved asters), but garden escapes of this species have been recorded in several European countries. So cut down the spent stems and never dump dug-out clumps in the wild.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 80 cm × 60 cm
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D August–October, white, pink, blue

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	80 cm × 60 cm
Ultimate size	20–90 cm × 30–90 cm
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	August–October, white, pink, blue
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	50 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about €8.90

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €8.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Perennials for full sun Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant perennials Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Perennials for clay soil Plants that are non-toxic to children Perennials for pollinators Low-maintenance perennials

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