About Eurybia spectabilis (Aiton) G.L.Nesom
Eurybia spectabilis (Aiton) G.L.Nesom, commonly called the eastern showy aster, showy aster, or purple wood aster, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to the eastern United States. It grows along the U.S. coastal plain, where it is most often found in dry, sandy soils. While it is not classified as threatened overall due to its extensive range, it is locally endangered in many U.S. states. Its fall-blooming flowers have violet-purple ray florets and yellow disc florets. It is one of the parent species of the hybrid Eurybia × herveyi.
This species occurs along the coastal plain of eastern North America, with a range stretching from Massachusetts and New York in the north, south to South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. It grows primarily in sandy soils, though it can occasionally be found in dry clay. It occurs at elevations between 0 and 900 metres (0 to 3000 feet) in habitats including near granite outcrops, dry oak-pine woods, pine barrens, and peat bogs. It can also be found along woodland borders, in clearings, fields, and roadsides.
