Southern Prairie Aster (Eurybia Hemispherica)

Features and Characteristics

Eurybia hemispherica, commonly called southern prairie aster, is a herbaceous perennial native to the south-central United States where it can be found growing on dry to mesic savannas, prairies, glades roadsides and other open habitats. Mature clumps will reach up to 5′ tall with a 3′ spread, taking on an upright to spreading habit. Can develop a woody root stock and slowly form colonies via stolons. The foliage is linear to lanceolate in shape with the lowest leaves reaching up to 6″ long and 0.5″ wide. The leaves become progressively smaller and held more tightly against the stems closer to the flower heads. The 1-5″ diameter flower heads are held in terminal, loosely raceme-like clusters and consist of narrow, purple ray florets surrounding a flat-topped center eye of yellow disk florets. The late season blooms are attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators.

The genus name Eurybia comes from the Greek eurys meaning “wide” and baios meaning “few”, possibly in reference to the shape and number of the typical ray florets of this genus compared to other North American asters.

The specific epithet hemispherica means “hemispherical” and refers to the shape of the involucre (whorl of bracts) of this species.

The common name southern prairie aster refers to both the native range of this species and its preferred habitat.