• Photo of Oclemena acuminata (Oclemena acuminatas)

Plant Profile: Oclemena acuminata

Taxonomy: Oclemena acuminata

Names

Acuminate Aster, Mountain Aster, Sharp-leaved Aster,, Sharp-toothed Nodding-aster, Whorled Aster, Whorled Wood Aster

  • Photo of Oclemena acuminata (Oclemena acuminatas)

Phonetic Spelling:OCK-la-men-ah ah-kew-min-NAH-ta

Genus:Oclemena

Species:acuminata

Family:Asteraceae

The Whirled Wood Aster is a wildflower indigenous to the mountainous regions of North Carolina, extending its range from eastern Canada down to Georgia. This plant propagates through underground runners, creating colonies, and thrives in cool, wooded areas.

While it can tolerate some shade, it produces the most vibrant blooms in sunny conditions. It favors well-drained, acidic soils but can also adapt to wetter environments. Incorporating this flower into a native garden in open woodlands will enhance the landscape with color from late summer through fall, whether in full sun or partial shade.

Oclemena acuminata Feature Summary

Oclemena acuminata Image Gallery

Tags

#red
#white
#yellow
#full sun tolerant
#white flowers
#pink flowers
#slopes
#fall interest
#summer flowers
#autumn
#native wildflower
#wildflower garden
#partial shade tolerant
#woodlands

Similar Plants

Oclemena acuminata Feature Summary

Attributes
E. Canada to E. U.S.A.
CT, GA, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WV
Bees will visit the flowers and some birds and small mammals will eat the seeds.
Perennial
Fruit
Achenes with copious glands
Flowers
1-1.5 inch composite flowers with 10-17 usually white but sometimes pinkish outer petals surrounding yellow or red disk flowers. It also has straw-colored bracts that are sharply pointed and layered. Blooms July-Oct.
Pink
White
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Showy
Long Bloom Season
7 - 20 petals/rays
1-3 inches
Leaves
This plant usually has 10-20 leaves below the flower cluster. The leaves are coarsely toothed, alternately spiraled up the stem in such a way as to appear whorled and crowded near the top of the stem. They are lance-shaped or elliptic and long-pointed at both ends with one main vein running from the base to the tip. Undersides are sticky. They are 2.5 inches long and 3/4 inch wide.
Elliptical
Lanceolate
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Stem
Somewhat hairy stems are slightly zigzagged.
Hairy (pubescent)
Zig Zags
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Wildflower
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Wet
Mountains
Landscape
Native Garden
Woodland
Slope/Bank
Bees
Small Mammals

Oclemena acuminata Attributes

Oclemena acuminata: Country Or Region Of Origin

E. Canada to E. U.S.A.

Oclemena acuminata: Distribution

CT, GA, KY, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WV

Oclemena acuminata: Wildlife Value

Bees will visit the flowers and some birds and small mammals will eat the seeds.

Oclemena acuminata: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Oclemena acuminata Fruit

Oclemena acuminata: Fruit Description

Achenes with copious glands

Oclemena acuminata: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Oclemena acuminata Flowers

Oclemena acuminata: Flower Description

1-1.5 inch composite flowers with 10-17 usually white but sometimes pinkish outer petals surrounding yellow or red disk flowers. It also has straw-colored bracts that are sharply pointed and layered. Blooms July-Oct.

Oclemena acuminata: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy
filter_vintage
White

Oclemena acuminata: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Oclemena acuminata: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Oclemena acuminata: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Oclemena acuminata: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Oclemena acuminata: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Oclemena acuminata: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Oclemena acuminata Leaves

Oclemena acuminata: Leaf Description

This plant usually has 10-20 leaves below the flower cluster. The leaves are coarsely toothed, alternately spiraled up the stem in such a way as to appear whorled and crowded near the top of the stem. They are lance-shaped or elliptic and long-pointed at both ends with one main vein running from the base to the tip. Undersides are sticky. They are 2.5 inches long and 3/4 inch wide.

Oclemena acuminata: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Oclemena acuminata: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Oclemena acuminata: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Oclemena acuminata: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Oclemena acuminata: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Oclemena acuminata: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Oclemena acuminata: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Oclemena acuminata: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Oclemena acuminata Stem

Oclemena acuminata: Stem Description

Somewhat hairy stems are slightly zigzagged.

Oclemena acuminata: Stem Color

grass
Green

Oclemena acuminata: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Oclemena acuminata: Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Oclemena acuminata: Stem Form

Straight
Zig Zags

Oclemena acuminata Whole Plant Traits

Oclemena acuminata: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Oclemena acuminata: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Oclemena acuminata: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Oclemena acuminata: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Oclemena acuminata: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Oclemena acuminata Cultural Conditions

Oclemena acuminata: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Oclemena acuminata: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Oclemena acuminata: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Oclemena acuminata: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Oclemena acuminata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b

Oclemena acuminata Landscape

Oclemena acuminata: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Oclemena acuminata: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Oclemena acuminata: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees