As summer begins to give way to fall, White Woodland Aster (Eurybia divaricata) starts lighting up shady woodland edges with clouds of small white flowers.
And those little flowers can become busy pollinator gathering places!
🦋 THE BUZZ: Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) is a small native butterfly that can often be found visiting asters and other wildflowers. With orange-and-black patterned wings, it’s easy to overlook among its larger butterfly cousins—but take a closer look and you’ll discover a beautiful little pollinator.
🌼 THE BLOOM: White Woodland Aster
Unlike many familiar asters that prefer full sun, White Woodland Aster thrives in part shade and woodland conditions. Its late-season flowers provide nectar for butterflies, bees, flies, and other insects at a time when many summer flowers are beginning to disappear.
🐛 AND THERE’S AN EVEN BIGGER ASTER CONNECTION!
Pearl Crescent caterpillars use asters as host plants. Females lay clusters of eggs on aster leaves, giving the next generation the food it needs to grow.
That means asters can provide nectar for the adult butterfly AND food for its caterpillars.
This is exactly why native plants are so important.
A flower isn’t simply something beautiful in the landscape. It can be a restaurant, nursery, shelter, and meeting place—all at the same time.
🌿 Plant the bloom. Feed the butterfly. Raise the caterpillar. Complete the connection.
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