Fauna
Flower

Southern Annual Saltmarsh Aster

Symphyotrichum divaricatum

Also known as Saltmarsh Aster, Yard Aster, Annual Saltmarsh Aster

Southern annual saltmarsh aster thrives in brackish marshes, coastal ditches, and moist disturbed soils where few other composite wildflowers can tolerate the high salinity. Slender, widely branching stems produce hundreds of delicate flower heads with white to pale lavender ray florets surrounding yellow disk centers. Operating on a rapid annual lifecycle, plants germinate in spring, bloom prolifically through late summer and autumn, and disperse abundant wind-blown seeds before winter frosts arrive.

AnnualFloweringSalt-Tolerant
Southern Annual Saltmarsh Aster reference
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Carbon Dioxide, Soil Nutrients
Predators
  • White-Tailed Deer
  • Marsh Rabbits
  • Grasshoppers
ThreatsWetland draining, coastal development, and roadside herbicide application
HabitatsSalt marshes, brackish wetlands, roadside ditches, and moist sandy depressions
Life span1 growing season
Classification
  1. OrderAsterales
  2. FamilyAsteraceae
  3. GenusSymphyotrichum
  4. SpeciesSymphyotrichum divaricatum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Timing: Visit marsh edges from August through November to see the plant in full bloom.
  • Habitat Protection: Stick to raised boardwalks and dry trails to avoid trampling sensitive marsh soils.
Related species
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