Symphyotrichum laeve
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aster laevis
- Phonetic Spelling
- sim-fy-oh-TRY-kum LAY-vey
- Description
-
Smooth Aster is a herbaceous perennial in the aster family that is native to central and eastern USA. It is a must-have for the garden due to the late-season blooms and the many pollinators it attracts. The 2-4 feet tall plant is covered in daisy-like purplish-blue flowers in Sept. to late fall.
Asters are easy to grow in well-drained average garden soil in full sun to partial shade and tolerate drought once established. Use in the border, a pollinator garden or naturalized areas. Will self-seed.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Pollinator Garden in Full Sun Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bluebird'
1 inch flowers with violet blue rays and yellow centers
- 'Bluebird'
- 'Bluebird'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bluebird'
1 inch flowers with violet blue rays and yellow centers
- 'Bluebird'
- 'Bluebird'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Symphyotrichum
- Species:
- laeve
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Eastern Canada North Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Host plant for the Pearl Crescent butterfly. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Songbirds and small mammals eat the seeds. Members of the genus Symphyotrichum support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteris, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteroides, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) hirticincta, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) nubecula, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) placata, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) simplex, and Colletes simulans.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Produces a dry, one-seeded fruit (achene) tipped with red bristles. It displays from October to November
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Many 1/2-1 inch composite violet to blue ray flowers with 15-30 petals and yellow disc flowers in the center. Blooms in early September through late fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves alternate and are lance to egg-shaped with a smooth margin. The leaves partly encircle the stem. Upper leaves are smaller and closer together with lower leaves being larger and spaced further apart.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
- Stem Description:
- Green stems that turn brown with age. Glabrous and sometimes glaucous.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
