Native aster of damp places.  Occasional in Wildwood in wet soil.

There are many asters in the Park and they are difficult to tell apart.  Purple-stemmed aster (S. puniceum) also prefers wet places, but has reddish stems and clasping leaves, and the flowers are rarely white.  Heath aster (S. pilosum) has very narrow leaves, and many small leaves in the inflorescence.  Calico aster (S. lateriflorum) has wider, shorter leaves and smaller flowers. Other asters in the Park have wider leaves, and/or prefer drier areas.