Georgia Aster

(Symphyotrichum georgianum)

Plant description In most cases the exact cause of the Georgia aster has large flower heads, 5 disappearance was not documented, cm across, marked by dark purple rays but herbicides, highway construction, encircling white to lavender disk flowers. fire suppression, and residential and industrial development have all altered Flowering occurs from early October the landscape where Georgia aster to mid-November. The tiny disk flowers historically occurred. are white, fading to a light or dull lavender, tan, or white as they mature. Threats The plants tiny fruit, which contain a Habitat loss due to development has single seed each, are up to 4 millimeters been considered a threat to the plant long, with evenly distributed, small, throughout its range, and continues to be hair-like structures. Georgia aster can be an issue in places. distinguished by the combination of dark purple rays, and white to lavender disk Since the plant prefers open areas, flowers. disturbance (fire, native grazers, etc.) is a part of this plant’s habitat requirements. Habitat and range The historic sources of disturbance have Georgia aster lives in woodlands or been virtually eliminated from its range, piedmont prairies dominated by native except where road, railroad, and utility plants, with acidic soils that vary rights-of-way maintenance are mimicking from sand to heavy clay. The primary the missing natural disturbances. This controlling factor appears to be the lack of disturbance allows woody plants to availability of light – the plant tends grow and shade-out the Georgia aster. to compete well for resources until it begins to get shaded out by woody plants. Due to the elimination of historic Populations can persist in the shade, but sources of disturbance, most of the these rarely flower, instead reproducing known remaining populations of Georgia by sending out underground stems which aster are adjacent to roads, railroads, send out new shoots. utility rights of way and other openings where land management mimics natural Georgia aster is a relict species of post disturbance regimes. At these locations, oak savanna/prairie communities that Georgia aster is vulnerable to accidental existed across much of the southeastern destruction from herbicide application, United States prior to widespread fire road shoulder grading, and other suppression and the disappearance of maintenance activities, though careful large native grazing animals (e.g., bison). planning can prevent these impacts. Georgia aster is currently found in five Deer browse and seed consumption by counties in Alabama, 15 in Georgia, insect larvae have also been noted. nine in North Carolina, and 14 in South Carolina. It was once known from Status Florida, but is no longer found there. In 1999, the Service made Georgia aster Across its range, 146 total populations a candidate for inclusion on the Federal have been known, of these, 28 have likely endangered species list, meaning it Georgia aster by Michele Elmore, TNC-GA disappeared. warranted inclusion on the list, but other species were a higher priority. Georgia Aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum) Distribution