Seasonal Wild Flowers

Sea Aster

Aster tripolium

Asteraceae

July to October

It is found all round the coast and a few places inland.

See the BSBI distribution map for Sea Aster

It grows extensively on saltmarshes, beside muddy creeks,

estuaries and brackish water ditches, on sea cliffs and

beside salted roads.

Sea Aster is a native, perennial, but short-lived herb,

growing up to 1m (usually shorter).

Flowers are in clusters, are up to 2cm and have pale

mauve to white petals.

They look quite spectacular when they form dense

patches on saltmarshes and beside estuaries.

Leaves are fleshy, lanceolate and deep green with

a prominent midrib.

Previous page: Round-headed Leek
Next page: Saw-wort

Sea Aster beside the Lune estuary

Sea Aster at high tide in August

Close-up of flowerheads

Fruiting heads in autumn

Leaves with a mud backdrop