Calico Aster - PollinateHV Local Ecotype

Asters perform big jobs each fall, coating the landscape in a layer of snow-like white petals (which hint at winter colorways soon to come) and serving as a buffet for pollinators to gather sustenance ahead of the dark and cold months. Calico Aster is one of the power players in this effort, each slightly spikey, strongly branched plant dazzling with blooms that often have reddish or purplish centers and classically aster-like thin white petals. It is a key plant in supporting at-risk native pollinators, including the Sunflower Miner Bee and the Polymorphic Sweat Bee.

This is a lower-growing aster than the other wild asters in our catalog, growing 1 to 3 feet in height. It is adaptable to fairly shady conditions, often found in the understory at woodland edges. Prefers well-draining soil.

This local ecotype seed is of Hudson Valley wild origin and has been scaled for production on our farm in Accord, NY.

PollinateHV is a collaboration between the Hudson Valley Seed Company and Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley in support of threatened native pollinators.

We worked with a team of expert botanists, seed collectors, nursery growers and farmers to produce local ecotype native seeds to support at-risk Hudson Valley pollinators. You can find more information about this project at pollinatehv.org/seed-work. Learn more about the Hudson Valley's threatened pollinators and find resources to install pollinator habitat at all scales at pollinatehv.org.