Symphyotrichum laeve (Smooth Aster, Smooth Blue Aster) - 5 Photos - Symphyotrichum/laeve/Asteraceae - Plant Profile

Attributes

Central & Eastern Canada North Central & Eastern U.S.A

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.

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Recommended Propagation Strategy:

Seed

Division

Play Value:

Wildlife Food Source

Fruit

Fruit Description:

Produces a dry, one-seeded fruit (achene) tipped with red bristles. It displays from October to November

Fruit Type:

Achene

Display/Harvest Time:

Winter

Fruit Length:

< 1 inch

Fruit Width:

< 1 inch

Flowers

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.

Flower Color:

Purple/Lavender

Blue

Flower Inflorescence:

Head

Panicle

Flower Value To Gardener:

Showy

Flower Bloom Time:

Fall

Flower Petals:

7 - 20 petals/rays

more than 20 petals/rays

Flower Shape:

Radial

Flower Size:

< 1 inch

Leaves

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.

Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Green

Simple

Alternate

Ovate

Lanceolate