The members of the Aster genus are exceedingly numerous in species. They are quite variable in appearance; some have large flower-heads, others very tiny; some are quite tall and some barely rise above the ground. Their colors, however, are usually some shade of purple or white.

The New England Aster (Aster novae-anglae) is one of the largest of the genus, its stem attaining heights of from two to six feet. The stem is stout, branched and rather rough. The leave are soft, hairy, lance-shaped, and clasp the stem by a somewhat heart-shaped base. The flowers are in a broad corymb at the top of the stem. They are quite large, measuring about an inch across; the thirty to forty narrow rays are a purplish color, often quite bright.

This species is common from Maine to Minnesota and southward, blooming from August to October, frequenting dry ground.

The New York Aster (Aster novi-belgii) is one of the most common of the "blue asters." The stalk is slender, very branchy, and grows from one to three feet in height. The leaves are commonly lance-shaped, but vary greatly. They slightly clasp the stem with their bases. The numerous flower-heads are a trifle more than an inch across, the yellowish center being surrounded by 15 to 24 lilac or blue-violet rays. This flower blooms in September and October.

The Many-Flowered Aster (Aster multiflorus) has, as its name would lead one to believe, very many flowers, but they are small, averaging less than 1/2 inch across. In fact, most of the white-flowered species do have smaller flowers than the blue ones, but what they lack in size they more than make up in numbers. The stem is very branching, making a bush-like plant. This is a common flower from Mass. to Minn. and southward, growing in dry places everywhere and blooming from September to November.

Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) is the largest flowered and prettiest of the everlastings.

The stems are simple, quite stout, white-woolly, leafy and six to thirty inches in height. The leaves are long and narrow, have a smooth edge, are grayish green above and woolly below, with narrow and clasping bases; they are closely set around the stem from the base to the flower cluster. This flower, this everlasting is very common on dry hillsides, in woods, or on recently cleared land. Its range extends from Manitoba southward to South Carolina and Missouri. It is in full bloom from July until September.

Sweet Everlasting (Gnaphalium polycephalum) has a woolly stem and wavy, lance-shaped, woolly leaves. The pearly flower-heads are oval in shape; they do not expand until after they have matured. It is common in pastures everywhere.

The Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a beautiful, large-flowered, tough-stemmed species that is commonly found in dry fields and pastures throughout the eastern U.S., although the flower is actually native to the western U.S. In other words, this flower grows most everywhere.