Stems glabrous. Leaves glabrous or glabrate. 2n = 48.

Flowering Aug-Oct. Calciphile, limestone pavements, calcareous sandy or gravelly shores and beaches of lake and streams, interdunal flats and swales, rarely fens, fields; 0-1100+ m; N.S., Ont., Que.; Conn., Del., D.C., Ill., Ind., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Variety pringlei may sometimes be confused with Symphyotrichum priceae, which is distinguished by its larger heads and purple rays. Plants identified as Aster pilosus var. demotus are tall phenotypes induced by ecologic conditions.