Commonly called false aster. I think that’s it Sigrid, thank you!

Symphyotrichum novae-anglae

Symphyotrichum prenanthoides

Symphyotrichum racemosum

Thank you, Jay!!! So S. novae-anglae *is* New England aster. It is pretty!

And S. prenanthoides *is* New York aster! Cute.

Then S. racemosum is ‘Small white American-aster’…. and comparing that to Boltonia asteroides I read that the distinction is whether it has a hairy stem. I will try to get a good look at them later and maybe better pics. Thanks, again!

The middle aster prenanthoides is the Crooked Stem Aster, not New York Aster, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii. To me I think the white aster is Symphyotrichum racemosum because Boltonia asteroides flowers are larger and have a much larger number of ray petals. All the flowers are blooming on one side of the stem and are in a racime. There are pendelous linear leaves within the inflorescence. The only other 2 white asters in your area are pilosum and lateriflorum.

New York Aster, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii

Jay, thanks for correcting me! So I’ve never heard of crooked stem aster, but I grow it. :)

Closeups of the white aster today —

And crooked stem aster: