Silver-leaved aster
Silver-leaved aster (Pityopsis graminifolia),
also known as Grass-leaved goldenaster
or Narrowleaf silkgrass, is found
throughout Florida in scrub, sandhills and
atwoods ecosystems.
The species has ve varieties, two or
more of which may be found in native
nurseries. Tracy’s silver-leaved aster
(Pityopsis graminifolia var. tracyi) can be
found in all of the habitats, though mostly
in atwoods. Sandhill silver-leaved aster
(P. graminifolia var. aequifolia) is usually
only found on drier soils of sandhills and
scrub. It blooms later than most other
fall wildowers, providing color into
late fall and early winter. Tracy’s silverleaved
aster also makes a short silvery
groundcover and can often be seen on
upper slopes of many roadsides.
Description
Silver-leaved aster is a tting name, as
the leaves are covered with silky hairs
that give it a silvery look. At rst glance,
the plant may appear to be a grass. It is
a perennial with short or long rhizomes,
depending on the variety, and is less than
a foot tall until the fall, when it sends up
bloom stalks on stems up to 3 feet tall. Its
yellow aster-like owers can bloom into
November and December, and even later
farther south.
Tracy’s silver-leaved aster spreads from
rhizomes to make a dense groundcover
and has owers over 1 inch across on
the tips of branched stems with short,
appressed leaves. This variety, with
its ability to spread, can make a very
pleasing silvery grass-like groundcover
over time. Sandhill silver-leaved aster
grows as a single clump with smaller
owers on the tips of stems that have
longer spreading leaves all the way to the
top. It can be mixed with other wildowers
that offer a variety of color and bloom
times.
Planting
Silver-leaved aster is relatively easy
to establish and maintain over time,
especially if it is one of the spreading
varieties. The more rhizomatous varieties
can also be divided and planted in new
areas.
Seeds
Though some varieties will spread,
Pityopsis do not reseed as readily as
do wildowers such as Coreopsis and
Blanketower. Collect the seed heads
once the head has completed owering
and the seed has uffed out. Seeds may
need to be sown rather soon in the winter
months, because they aren’t viable for
long.
Plants
Plants are generally available in quarts
or gallons from native nurseries. Space
them 2 feet apart — closer if using
Tracy’s silver-leaved aster to create a
groundcover quickly by spreading. Plants
can be established at
any time of the year
from containers by
watering in well after
planting and following
with water as needed
until established or
well into the rainy season.
Care
After the plants have bloomed, cut back
the owering stems to ground level. ou
can even mow in areas where Tracy’s
silver-leaved aster has been used to
make a spreading groundcover. Use
well-sharpened blades, as the stems and
leaves are quite tough.
Site conditions
The plant prefers full sun to light shade
and well-drained soils to droughty sandy
soils. Avoid heavily shaded or crowded
plantings. Different varieties may require
different growing conditions; ask about
the plant’s origins.
Hardiness zones
Silver-leaved aster is best suited for zones
8a–11a.
Silver-leaved aster attracts butteries
and various pollinators as a nectar
plant.
1–3 ft
Nectar
The different varieties of
Silver-leaved aster are
not well known, even
by native growers, so
ask about the growth
characteristics when
you purchase plants or obtain plant
material from a friend.
CAUTION
Photo by Eleanor Dietrich
Silver-leaved aster
Photo by Peg Urban
Silver-leaved aster in a landscape setting
Photo by Mary Keim