Symphyotrichum urophyllum, commonly known as White Arrowleaf Aster, is an herbaceous perennial that forms a semi-evergreen rosette of basal leaves up to 10" across. During the spring, this plant bolts, producing one or more erect to ascending stems with alternate leaves. The stems are light green or yellowish green, terete, and somewhat brittle.
Branching cluster of numerous, short-stalked, daisy-type flowers at the top of the plant and arising from upper leaf axils. Flowers are ½ to ¾ inch across with 8 to 15 white to pale blue petals (ray flowers) surrounding a pale yellow center disk that turns reddish with age.
The leaves of Arrowleaf Aster distinguish it from other asters with small, white flowers. While there are several other asters with heart-shaped leaves, the others have blue to violet flowers in more open panicles and broader phyllaries that are appressed, not flaring out.
