Flat-topped White Aster

Doellingeria umbellata

Aster umbellatus  

Flat-topped White Aster

Waabishki-mashkiki

A tall and elegant member of the Aster family that brightens wetlands and moist meadows late in the season. Flat-topped White Aster produces clusters of crisp white daisy-like flowers in late summer and early autumn when many other plants are beginning to fade. The blooms rise above lance-shaped leaves on sturdy stems, creating a soft cloud of white that attracts a wide range of pollinators.

Waabishki-mashkiki – The White Meadow Medicine

Waabishki-mashkiki carries bright white blossoms that appear as summer turns toward autumn. In Anishinaabe understanding, late-season flowers hold an important role — feeding pollinators preparing for winter and bringing balance to the closing cycle of the growing season.

A Wildflower of Wet Meadows and Edges

Flat-topped White Aster grows naturally in moist meadows, wet prairies, marsh edges, and open woodland clearings. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates moist soils that many prairie plants cannot handle.

Planting Waabishki-mashkiki strengthens pollinator corridors and restores late-season nectar sources in wetland edges and meadow ecosystems.

Growing Information

Height: 3–6 ft

Spread: 2–3 ft

Light: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Moist to wet, well-drained soils

Hardiness: Zone 3–8

Growth Rate: Moderate

Best planted in wet meadows, rain gardens, prairie restorations, and along pond or wetland edges where it can naturalize and provide late-season blooms.

Ecological Importance

Waabishki-mashkiki:

Provides critical late-season nectar for bees and butterflies

Supports migrating pollinators preparing for winter

Adds height and seasonal structure to meadow ecosystems

Strengthens biodiversity in wet prairie and meadow habitats

Larval host for
• Pearl Crescent Butterfly (Phyciodes tharos)
• Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis)
• Wavy-lined Emerald Moth (Synchlora aerata)

Planting to Protect
Restoring to Thrive 🌱
Origin Native Plants 🌱

3.5 Inch Pots