Flat-Top White Aster (Doellingeria umbellata) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,853 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from August to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Flat-Top White Aster: observations by month (U.S.)
About Flat-Top White Aster
Doellingeria umbellata, known by the common names tall flat-topped white aster, parasol whitetop, or tall white-aster, is a North American plant species in the aster family. It is native to Canada (from Alberta to Newfoundland), St. Pierre and Miquelon, and the eastern and north-central United States (from Nebraska and the Dakotas east to Maine and South to Mississippi, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Flat-Top White Aster by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 856 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Maine | 832 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 218 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New York | 152 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 152 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 140 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Minnesota | 128 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Michigan | 97 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 73 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Ohio | 49 | September | Aug–Sep |
| West Virginia | 37 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Connecticut | 25 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Illinois | 20 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 19 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Indiana | 18 | September | Aug–Oct |
| North Carolina | 8 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Tennessee | 8 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Maryland | 7 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Iowa | 5 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Virginia | 5 | August | Aug–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Flat-Top White Aster?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from August to September.
Where is Flat-Top White Aster most often seen?
The most observations come from Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire.