Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aster oblongifolius var. angustatus
- Phonetic Spelling
- sim-fy-oh-TRY-kum ob-long-ee-FOH-lee-um
- Description
-
Aromatic aster is a native perennial wildflower in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. In nature it is found on rock outcrops and dry woodlands over limestone and calcareous shale. The common name comes from the balsam-like fragrance it gives off when its rigid stems are crushed.
Plant in the full sun with well-drained soil. Reaching a mature height and width of 3 feet, aromatic aster creates dense, low mounds. It propagates by its wind-dispersed seeds or it can spread by stolons.
The showy, small purple flowers have a long bloom season lasting from late summer until the first frost. Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. Read more about best practices for stem-nesting bees in this NC Extension publication.
Mass plant along a walkway or use in the front of a sunny border. It is just as at home in a meadow or naturalized area. This plant is resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits and is both drought-tolerant and tolerant of coastal conditions. This is a great substitute to use in place of fall mums.
This plant was selected as the 2000 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Asters can have some susceptibility to powdery mildew and aster wilt. Poorly-drained clay soils and poor air circulation can contribute to this. Improving drainage and good air circulation helps reduce the incidence of foliar diseases.
VIDEO: Part of the Native Plant Picks series from the North Carolina Sea Grant led Coastal Landscapes Initiative.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Fannys'
2 feet tall covered with purple flowers - 'October Skies'
dwarf mounding plant with sky blue flowers - 'Raydons Favorite'
More compact
- 'Fannys'
- 'Fannys', 'October Skies', 'Raydons Favorite'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Fannys'
2 feet tall covered with purple flowers - 'October Skies'
dwarf mounding plant with sky blue flowers - 'Raydons Favorite'
More compact
- 'Fannys'
- 'Fannys', 'October Skies', 'Raydons Favorite'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Symphyotrichum
- Species:
- oblongifolium
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- U.S.A. to North East Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- 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. The showy small purple flowers have a long bloom season lasting from late summer until the first frost.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 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:
- Achenes with small turfs of light brown hair are distributed by the wind. Displays from October to November
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1-1.5 inch wide composite flowers have 25-30 blue-purple rays with yellow center disc flowers. The bracts are glandular with long, green, loose, or spreading tips. Blooms from late summer to first frost. One of the last flowers blooming before a heavy frost.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 2-3 inch long by .5 inch wide simple, clasping, alternate, oblong leaves with entire margins. Become smaller as they ascend the stem. Fragrant when crushed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Slightly pubescent round green stems turn brown with age.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
