Bloomipedia
Whorled wood aster (Oclemena acuminata)
Photo: Even Dankowicz via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Whorled wood aster

Oclemena acuminata

Whorled wood aster (Oclemena acuminata) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly August–September across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Whorled wood aster is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in August–September.

17states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
9,426U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont

Quick look

Oclemena acuminata, commonly known as whorled wood aster, is a species of flowering plant in the aster family Asteraceae. It is native to eastern North America. It is one of the parent species of the hybrid known as Blake's aster.

  • It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 17 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. NatureServe
  • In New Hampshire, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in August–September. iNaturalist
  • In Maine, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in August–September. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,172 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #20 among the 157 flowers on our New Hampshire list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,926 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #27 among the 160 flowers on our Maine list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,523 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #54 among the 159 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,579 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New HampshireNativeAugust–September2,172
MaineNativeAugust–September1,926
VermontNativeAugust–September1,523

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: KY (S2), OH (SH), SC (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records whorled wood aster in 17 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.

New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan.

Maine counties with USDA records: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, York.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Aster acuminatus.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 213 counties across 15 states; the most are in Pennsylvania (45), New York (38), Virginia (32).

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.

More New Hampshire flowers

Colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara)

Colt's-foot

Tussilago farfara

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in NH: April–May
Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in NH: June–August
Orange hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca)

Orange hawkweed

Pilosella aurantiaca

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in NH: June–July

Sources