Frost Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 971 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Nationally it blooms mainly from September to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Frost Aster: observations by month (U.S.)
About Frost Aster
Symphyotrichum pilosum, commonly called the hairy white oldfield aster or frost aster, is an herbaceous plant in the aster family.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Frost Aster by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 204 | October | Sep–Nov |
| North Carolina | 104 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Indiana | 70 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 69 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 56 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Illinois | 53 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Mississippi | 50 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Minnesota | 42 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Michigan | 36 | September | Sep–Oct |
| New Jersey | 34 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Ohio | 33 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Virginia | 31 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 30 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Georgia | 25 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Kentucky | 25 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Missouri | 18 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Alabama | 15 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Maryland | 14 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Iowa | 12 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Tennessee | 8 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Vermont | 7 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Connecticut | 6 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Maine | 6 | October | Oct–Oct |
| South Carolina | 6 | October | Oct–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 Frost Aster?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from September to October.
Where is Frost Aster most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, North Carolina, Indiana.