[Asters: The Genera Canadanthus, Eucephalus, Eurybia, Oreostemma and Symphyotrichum Found in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Few-flowered Aster, Great Northern Aster, Tall Northern Aster, Giant Mountain Aster

Canadanthus modestus

Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus

Few-flowered Aster, Giant Mountain Aster, Great Northern Aster: Canadanthus modestus (Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus)

The photo above shows great northern aster as seen in meadows between Saddle Creek Campgound and Hat Point in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.........July 11, 2007.
Few-flowered Aster, Giant Mountain Aster, Great Northern Aster: Canadanthus modestus (Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus)Photo at right of great northern aster from Multorpor Fen, Mt. Hood N.F..........August 11, 2001. Note the reddish, glandular stems which are bent at the nodes, giving the stem a somewhat zig zag appearance.
Characteristics:

The great northern aster is a pretty perennial wildflower with one to several erect stems from 30-100 cm high arising from creeping rhizomes. The herbage is glandular above on the leaves and stems and may have some hairs on the stems too. The lanceolate leaves are linear-lanceolate in shape with sessile bases which may be clasping and entire to slightly serrate margins. The leaves are thin in cross-section and range from 5-13 cm long and 1-4 cm wide. The lower leaves are often deciduous or withered by flowering time.

The one to many flower heads are arranged in a leafy short cyme. The heads are 2-3 cm wide with 20-45 purple to violet rays from 8-15 mm long surrounding a yellowish central disk. The involucre is glandular and measures from 7-11 mm high. The involucre consists of 2-3 rows of bracts with pointed tips. The bracts are often purplish in color and many may be somewhat leafy in appearance.

Habitat

The great northern aster may be found in moist woodlands and mountain meadows, and is common along streams in such habitats.

Range:

Great northern aster is found from Alaska south to Washington and Oregon and eastward to Alberta, Montana, and Idaho. It is found further east in northern Minnesota and Ontario.

Few-flowered Aster, Great Northern Aster, Tall Northern Aster, Giant Mountain Aster: Canadanthus modestus (Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus) - Few-flowered Aster, Great Northern Aster, Tall Northern Aster, Giant Mountain Aster: Canadanthus modestus (Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus)

Great northern aster observed still in bloom in a wetland area along one of the numerous bridges on the Green River Trail #213, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument......September 4, 2019.

Involucral bracts of Few-flowered Aster, Giant Mountain Aster, Great Northern Aster: Canadanthus modestus (Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus) - Few-flowered Aster, Great Northern Aster, Tall Northern Aster, Giant Mountain Aster: Canadanthus modestus (Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus)

The photo at left shows a close-up of the gland-covered, leafy involucral bracts of great northern aster as seen in meadows between Saddle Creek Campgound and Hat Point in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.........July 11, 2007. The photo at right shows great northern aster blooming in the ditch on the north side of the Government Camp Rest Area restrooms of US 26, Mount Hood.....September 22, 2023.

Gland-tipped hairs on the petioles of Few-flowered Aster, Giant Mountain Aster, Great Northern Aster: Canadanthus modestus (Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus) - Stem leaf of Few-flowered Aster, Giant Mountain Aster, Great Northern Aster: Canadanthus modestus (Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus) - Upper stem leaves and flower heads of Few-flowered Aster, Giant Mountain Aster, Great Northern Aster: Canadanthus modestus (Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus)

Close-up photos of the the long, lanceolate leaf blade and gland-tipped hairs on the petioles and lower leaf surface of great norther aster with its sessile base..........August 25, 2005. Also shown is a close-up of the inflorescence of great northern aster as taken at the same location as the coordinates at the top of the page........August 25, 2005. This species may also be easily seen at the same time along Road #23 at its junction with Road #8810. Note the purplish tinge to the involucral bracts.

Few-flowered Aster, Giant Mountain Aster, Great Northern Aster: Canadanthus modestus (Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus) - Inflorescence of Few-flowered Aster, Giant Mountain Aster, Great Northern Aster: Canadanthus modestus (Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus)

The photo above shows the long, lanceolate leaf blade of great norther aster with its sessile base as seen where Big Creek crosses FS Road #16, Malheur National Forest .........August 20, 2011. The photo at right shows northern aster as seen in wetlands atLost Lake Fen, Okanogan National Forest..........July 12, 2015.

Stem leaf of Few-flowered Aster, Giant Mountain Aster, Great Northern Aster: Canadanthus modestus (Synonyms: Aster major, Aster modestus, Aster modestus var. major, Aster sayianus, Aster unalaschensis, Aster unalaschensis var. major, Weberaster modestus)

A stem leaf of great northern aster. Note the serrated margins of the blade.
Paul Slichter