Smooth Blue Aster Symphyotrichum laeve

• 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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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