11 White Aster Varieties for Stunning Late Summer to Fall Gardens
Are you looking to add a touch of elegance and beauty to your garden in the late summer and fall months? Look no further than white aster varieties. Asters are part of the large Asteraceae family, which includes popular flowers like chrysanthemums and daisies. Known for their radiating rays around a dense central disk of tiny florets, asters are commonly seen in shades of blue, pink, and purple during the late summer and fall seasons.
But did you know that asters also come in beautiful shades of white? White asters can add a unique and ethereal quality to your garden, creating a stunning display in beds, borders, large containers, meadows, rockeries, and woodlands.
In this in-depth guide, we will explore 11 white aster varieties that are perfect for transforming your garden into a serene and enchanting haven. From compact cultivars to tall, bushy plants, there is a white aster variety to suit every garden style and preference. So, let’s dive in and discover the beauty of white asters for your late summer to fall garden!
Best White Aster Varieties
- Snowbank
- Colour Carpet White
- Flat-Topped
- White Wood
- Alba Stokes’
- Snow Flurry White Heath
- White Panicled
- Lady in Black Calico
- White Swan New York
- Frost
- Arrow-Leaved
1. Snowbank
The Snowbank aster is a false aster cultivar known for its compact stature and stunning white flowers. Perfect for gardeners in Zones 4 to 9, this perennial thrives in full sun and medium to moist, well-draining soil. The mounding, airy panicles of Snowbank asters are adorned with daisy-like flowers with yellow centers and white rays. Plant them in drifts or use them as dense hedging for a beautiful late summer to fall bloom display.
2. Colour Carpet White
The Colour Carpet White aster, also known as the china aster, is a non-native annual that offers petite, white flower heads resembling chrysanthemums. Ideal for beds, borders, containers, rock gardens, and window boxes, this cultivar is a temporary attraction that adds a touch of elegance to any garden. With a bloom time from late summer to fall, Colour Carpet White asters are a versatile and beautiful addition to your garden.
3. Flat-Topped
The Flat-Topped white aster, also known as Parasol Whitetop, is a US native perennial that thrives in Zones 3 to 8. With its bushy, mounding habit and sparse-rayed flowers in loose clusters, Flat-Topped asters are perfect for moist, sandy soil. Enjoy their bloom time from midsummer to fall and add a unique texture to your garden with these stunning white flowers.
4. White Wood
The White Wood aster, a US native perennial suitable for Zones 3 to 8, is a low-profile plant with star-like white flowers and a mounding growth habit. Perfect for growing beneath tall trees and shrubs, White Wood asters thrive in part to full shade and tolerate drought and dry soil. Enjoy their late summer to fall bloom time and create a beautiful blanket of blossoms in your garden.
5. Alba Stokes’
Stokes’ aster, known for its erect plants and profoundly divided flowers, is a US native perennial that thrives in Zones 5 to 9. With a height range of 1 to 1 1/2 feet, Alba Stokes’ asters are ideal for small-space gardening. Enjoy their spring to summer blooming period and make sure to deadhead diligently to prevent seeding. Drought and rabbit resistant, these asters are a low-maintenance and beautiful addition to any garden.
6. Snow Flurry White Heath
The Snow Flurry aster cultivar of the white heath species is a ground-covering US native perennial suitable for Zones 3 to 9. With heights ranging from 4 to 6 inches, Snow Flurry asters thrive in full sun and low water needs, making them perfect for xeriscaping. Enjoy their tiny flowers with slender rays and dense, creeping foliage for a beautiful late summer to fall display in your garden.
7. White Panicled
The White Panicled aster is a US native perennial suitable for Zones 3 to 9, known for its clusters of daisy-like flowers with prominent yellow disks. With heights ranging from 1 to 5 feet, White Panicled asters add texture and interest to the garden with their unique growth habit and late summer to fall bloom time. Plant them in a location where they can spread freely for a mass of color and habitat for local wildlife.
8. Lady in Black Calico
The Lady in Black calico aster is a US native perennial known for its striking mounding habit and sparse rays with red or purple centers. Perfect for Zones 3 to 8, this drought-tolerant aster blooms from early summer into mid-fall and naturalizes readily in moist, wooded settings. Enjoy the deep purple foliage and late summer to fall bloom time of this stunning white aster variety.
9. White Swan New York
The White Swan aster cultivar of the New York aster is a US perennial perfect for Zones 4 to 8. With daisy-like rays and bold yellow centers, White Swan asters grow in dense profusion over clumps of foliage, adding a touch of elegance to the garden. Make sure to provide adequate air circulation between plants to avoid powdery mildew and enjoy the late summer to fall bloom time of these beautiful white flowers.
10. Frost
The Frost aster, also known as hairy aster, is a US native perennial suitable for Zones 4 to 8. Known for its bushy growth habit and hairy stems and leaves, Frost asters add a bright and cheerful vista to meadows with their slender-rayed blossoms. While it can be considered a weed due to its naturalizing tendencies, massed Frost asters create a stunning late summer to fall display in any garden.
11. Arrow-Leaved
The Arrow-Leaved aster variety is a native perennial that thrives in Zones 3 to 9. With dense cone-shaped clusters of tiny, multi-rayed blossoms, Arrow-Leaved asters add a unique and eye-catching quality to woodland settings. Known for their heart-shaped basal leaves, these asters bloom from late summer into fall and are perfect for gardens with dry to average soil that drains well.
An Entr’acte of White
With 11 stunning white aster varieties to choose from, you have all the tools you need to transform your late summer to fall garden into a serene and enchanting paradise. Perennial asters are vigorous growers that spread via extensive root systems and self-sowing, making them a cost-effective way to add beauty to your garden.
Native aster varieties attract beneficial insects and backyard birds, adding another layer of interest and biodiversity to your garden. Consider planting drifts of snowy-white asters as a palette-cleansing interlude between summer’s waning hues and the vibrant autumn colors to come.
And if you’re like me, you’ll appreciate the serene ambiance of a garden filled with white blossoms that brighten the yard by day and shimmer in the moonlight. Consider adding a comfortable garden bench or cozy gazebo to fully enjoy the view and relax in the beauty of your garden.
If you found this guide informative and inspiring, make sure to check out our other aster guides for more tips and ideas on growing and caring for these beautiful flowers. Happy gardening!
With these expanded sections and additional information on each white aster variety, you now have a comprehensive and detailed guide to help you choose the perfect white asters for your late summer to fall garden. Whether you’re a beginner gardener looking to add beauty to your landscape or an experienced enthusiast seeking unique varieties to enhance your garden, these white asters are sure to impress. Have fun exploring and planting these stunning flowers in your garden!
