Symphyotrichum cordifolium
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aster cordifolius
- Phonetic Spelling
- sim-fy-oh-TRY-kum kor-dih-FOH-lee-um
- Description
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Blue wood aster is a herbaceous perennial in the daisy famiy (Asteraceae) native to eastern and central North America. It can be found growing in woodlands, thickets, floodplain forests, wooded bluffs and stream banks. The specific epithet means with heart-shaped leaves.
Blue wood aster can grow up to 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide. It prefers partial shady conditions in well-drained moist to dry soils. Pinching back the stems will lead to a bushier plant and hopefully avoid the need for staking. The foliage tends to decline by late summer and it can be cut to the ground to avoid any self-seeding and also to help with appearance. It will readily self-seedand can become weedy.
In later summer to fall, blue wood aster produces a profusion of 1-inch composite flowers consisting of light blue ray florets surrounding yellow center disc florets. The leaves are sharply toothed with the lower leaves being larger and heart-shaped.
Use blue wood aster in a woodland garden or naturalized area. It will attract late-season bees and butterflies to your native pollinator garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Some susceptibility to powdery mildew, leaf spots, or rust. Aster wilt can also be an occasional problem if plants are grown in poorly-drained clay soils. Good air circulation helps reduce the incidence of foliar diseases. Taller plants may require staking or other support.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Avondale'
- 'Photograph'
Upright grower, to 4 feet tall but only 1 foot wide. Award of Garden Merit.
Prolific bloomer - 'Photograph'
- 'Avondale', 'Photograph'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
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'Avondale'
- 'Photograph'
Upright grower, to 4 feet tall but only 1 foot wide. Award of Garden Merit.
Prolific bloomer - 'Photograph'
- 'Avondale', 'Photograph'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Symphyotrichum
- Species:
- cordifolium
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada to U.S.A
- 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
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Moderately deer resistant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Seeds have hairs for wind dispersal. Displays from October to November
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The composite flowers bloom in large, loose panicles and consist of white to pale blue to pale violet rays surrounding yellow disc florets that turn red over time. Bracts are smooth, narrow, and blunt.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Lower leaves are up to 5 inches long and 3 inches wide and are heart-shaped with coarse teeth. They often wither away by bloom time. Upper leaves are smaller with an ovate shape, a more rounded base and short-stemmed to sessile.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are often simgle from the base but occassionall multiple. They are green and smooth. Becomes woody at the base with age.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Weedy
