Aster macrophyllus (Eurybia macrophylla) - BIG-LEAF ASTER

Ground covering aster with large basal leaves. Whitish flowers in the fall, spreads some into 2-3' wide clumps.

Very adaptable to various soils (incl. clay or poor soils), excellent for difficult to identify sun/shade transition areas.

Black walnut tolerant, supports various butterflies, moths and many pollinators.

Blooming Time: August-September
Size: 1.5- 2' tall x 2' wide, spreads with rhizomes to form wide clumps (but is not overly aggressive)
USDA Zones: 3 to 8
Culture: part sun, half shade, light or dappled shade. Very adaptable to variety of soils - average, loam, sandy, clay, grows well in poor soils too.

Adapts to most pH. Appreciates some organic matter in soils or leaf mulch on the top.

Flowers the best in part sun or half shade and may not flower in deep shade!
Moisture Needs: average (medium), medium-moist to medium-dry. Tolerates more moisture in the early season
Origin: native to eastern part of USA, excluding the Deep South, see the BONAP distribution map. Can be found on mesic soils (not too wet, nor dry), often in undisturbed and high-qualities areas in woodland edges, beech-maple woodlands, sandy oak woodlands, sandy oak savannas, elevated areas in swamps (hummocks), stabilized sand dunes (with dominant oaks), and woodland borders.
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: not / not - both can nibble on the leaves (just like any domestic herbivore animals)
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: yes / yes. Flowers attract large variety of insects  = long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles, plant bugs. Host plant for caterpillars of butterflies (Silvery Checkerspot and Pearl Crescent), caterpillars of several moths (Aster Borer Moth, The Asteroid, Arcigera Flower Moth). Aster Leafminer Fly), and larvae of several aphids, Aster Leafhopper, and also some lace bugs, leaf beetles and one plant bug.
Attracts Hummingbirds: no
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 4" deep perennial pot

Plant combinations:  partial shade and half shade beds, pollinator or butterfly gardens, woodland edges, combined with small small shrubs, other perennials and grasses. Leave some room, because it will spread some.

Good companions can be Aconitum, Anemone x hupehensis (Japanese Anemone and hybrids), other woodland Asters (A. divaricatus), Brunnera, larger Epimediums, Eupatorium coelestinum, Euphorbia, shorter cultivars of Eupatorium, Echinacea purpurea, hardy Geraniums, Heliopsis, Helianthus divaricatus, botanical species of Hemerocallis, Hosta, Phlox paniculata and hybrids, Patrinia scabiosifolia, shorter Sanguisorba, Solidago caesia, Solidago flexicaulis, Vernonia or grasses like Calamagrostis, medium sized Carex (sedges), Chasmantium, Deschampsia, Hakonechloa.

Picture copyright: BotBln, Commons Wikipedia