PlantFiles: Stiff Aster, Bristly Aster, Flaxleaf Whitetop Aster, Pine Starwort
Ionactis linariifolius

This aster inhabits dry clearings, sandy woods, rocky slopes, rocky stream beds and prairies. A durable plant, it prefers only full sun and it thrives in acidic, sandy soils. It withstands drought as well as seasonal flooding. It usually attains a height between 12 and 24 inches and a width of 6 to 12 inches. It forms stiff, rounded clumps. The dark, shiny leaves resemble small yew leaves or linaria leaves. This explains its species name "linariifolius" which means "leaves like Linaria". The leaves are in whorls that are at right angles to the stem. The pale blue-purple flowerheads are 3/4 to 1 inch across with a disk that starts out yellow and then turns red-orange as the bloom matures. They are produced at the ends of ascending stems and are great cut flowers. To encourage bushiness and more blooms, shear off the top half of the plant in early June.

Because it is a long-blooming, showy, compact aster, it is an excellent choice for the rock garden and native garden. Plus, it attracts butterflies. It looks great massed in groups or used as a border plant. Be sure that the soil in which it is planted is well drained.

DH and I sighted this plant growing wild on a stony, dry bank above the railroad tracks today. Part of the sunny slope it grew on was a steep abandoned dirt road leading to the tracks, the rest was right over boulders.

Smartweed vine romped to the right and left and below, but not on top. It grew in colonies interspersed with sparse grasses, other smaller colonies of possibly Maryland golden aster (Chrysopsis mariana), New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) and a small, ground-hugging, fernleaf Senna (Cassia sp.) It was just beginning to bloom. This little patch emerged from a canopy of oak and hickory.

The intensity of its violet-blue color and its rosemary-like leaves were quite a surprise. We have never seen this plant before in our 30 years of hiking in the area, so hopefully other hikers will also leave it to continue growing in the wild.