Symphyotrichum dumosum

Symphyotrichum dumosum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Astereae
Genus:	Symphyotrichum
Species:	S. dumosum
Binomial name
Symphyotrichum dumosum (L.) G.L.Nesom
Synonyms
Aster cordifolius Michx. illegitimate Aster dumosus L. Aster dumosus var. albus Pursh Aster dumosus var. coridifolius (Michx.) Torr. & A.Gray Aster dumosus var. foliosus Alph.Wood Aster dumosus var. gracilentus Torr. & A.Gray Aster dumosus f. monocephalus Farw. Aster dumosus var. subracemosus Torr. & A.Gray Aster dumosus var. versus Torr. & A.Gray Aster dumosus var. violaceus Pursh Aster foliolosus Elliott Aster foliosus Pers. Aster sparsiflorus Michx.

Symphyotrichum dumosum, common names rice button aster or bushy aster, is an herbaceous plant in the aster family. It is native to a widespread area across the eastern half of the United States from Texas to Florida to Maine to Wisconsin. It is also native to New Brunswick and Ontario, and is cultivated in other places.

Symphyotrichum dumosum is a perennial herb up to 100 cm (40 inches) tall. Heads are born in paniculiform arrays. Ray flowers are blue, pink, purple or white; disc flowers pale yellow, turning pink with age.

This species was long known as Aster dumosus before it was moved into its current genus due to a phylogenetic analysis. The genus Aster has been narrowed considerably in scope in recent years, due to new information about the relationships of the species in the group.

The following 5 varieties are recognized:

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