White aster
Aster ageratoides
Family: Asteraceae
What it is like
A herb that grows in clumps. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 40-100 cm high. It has a short stem and short off-shoots develop from this. The stems are hairy. They are 2 mm across and branch just before flowering. The leaves at the base die early. The leaves on the stem are narrowly sword shaped and 8-14 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They taper at both ends. There are teeth towards the tip. The flowers are white and in heads. These are in loose groups.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is native to eastern Asia. In China it is common on hillsides.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Japan
How it is used for food
The young leaves are eaten.
Edible parts
Leaves