Heath Aster is also known as Hairy Aster and Soft Aster.

The plant is an upright, smooth to hairy perennial with an underground stem from which new growth emerges. Its preferred habitat is moist grounds, fields and flood plains. Distribution is throughout the Escambia region.

The leaves are alternate on the stem, smooth, downy, short leaf stalks that appear to have wings and clasping, widest at the middle to linear in shape, tapering to the tip with sides less than equal. The leaf margins may be smooth or slightly toothed; no lobes.

The flowers are a panicle; symmetrical in form. The disc flowers are yellow and bisexual in nature. The ray flowers are female only. While the flower rays are generally white, it is not unusual to see an occasional plant bearing pale blue, rosy or purple. This phenomena is due to extensive hybridizing within the species. Flowers occur in the summer and autumn.

Fruit is achene (a seed which outer layer is fused to it).