Doellingeria umbellata (Fr: Aster à ombelles | En: Flat-top white aster)

Flat-top White Aster

Doellingeria umbellata
Alternative names: Tall White Aster, Umbel Aster
French: Aster à ombelles

Flat-top White Aster is a tall, elegant native wildflower that really shines in late summer and early fall. Its broad clusters of white blooms create a bright, cloud-like effect and provide a crucial nectar source when few other plants are still flowering. It’s a great companion to tall goldenrods like Solidago rugosa or S. altissima in meadow-style gardens.

Its flowers are loved by bees, wasps, butterflies, and moths, while the leaves support many small insects, including leaf miners and the striking Harris’s Checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne harrisii). Later in the season, the seeds feed small songbirds, including sparrows.

This species stands tall—up to 2 metres—and does well in sun to part-shade, particularly in moist, rich soils. It’s ideal for pollinator gardens, naturalized meadows, rain gardens, or along forest edges.

Height: 1–2 metres
Bloom time: August to September
Light: Full sun to part shade
Moisture: Moist to moderate
Soil: Prefers rich, well-drained soil
Habitat: Meadows, prairies, open woods, wetland edges
Ecological benefits: Supports pollinators and butterflies, seeds feed songbirds
Edible: Not edible