Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Country Or Region Of Origin
Eastern North America
Plant Profile: Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Taxonomy: Symphyotrichum novae-angliaeNames
New England Aster
Phonetic Spelling:sim-fy-oh-TRY-kum NO-vee ANG-lee-a
Genus:Symphyotrichum
Species:novae-angliae
Family:Asteraceae
The New England Aster is a robust herbaceous perennial that can reach heights of 3 to 7 feet. Its leaves are arranged alternately, featuring a rough and hairy texture with smooth edges. The stem is also covered in fuzz. From August to October, it produces large, striking purple flowers adorned with a yellow center. By late fall, the plant develops dry seeds known as achenes.
These vibrant deep pink-purple blooms are not only visually appealing but also attract various wildlife, including bees and butterflies, making them excellent choices for floral arrangements. The New England Aster thrives in clay soil and is a wonderful addition to rain gardens. After flowering, the plants can be pruned back to the ground to encourage vigorous new growth. Ensuring good air circulation around the plants can help mitigate the risk of foliar diseases.
Fire Risk: This species has a medium flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
- Blooms: Late Summer/Fall
- Fruit/Seed/Nut: Late Fall/Winter
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Feature Summary
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Image Gallery
Tags
#showy flowers
#fall color
#rain garden
#perennial
#wildlife plant
#honey bees
#cut flowers
#native bees
#fall interest
#small mammals
#specialized bees
#herb garden
#food source
#fire
#medium flammability
#NC native
#Pearl Crescent butterfly
#native garden
#Monarch butterfly
#native wildflower
#wildflower garden
#larval host plant
#food source winter
#food source fall
#Coastal OBL
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#Piedmont Mountains FACW
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#butterfly friendly
#HS302
#pollinator garden
#bee friendly
#audubon
Similar Plants
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Feature Summary
Attributes
Eastern North America
Host plant for the Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) caterpillars which have several broods and appear from April through November in the north and throughout the year in the deep south and Mexico. Flower nectars are attractive to bees and adult Pearl Crescent butterflies (including migrating Monarchs). 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.
Moderate deer resistance.
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Attractive Flowers
medium flammability
Fruit
The herb produces a dry seed (achene) that displays from October to November.
Achene
Flowers
Large, purple flowers with a yellow center mature from August to October.
Purple/Lavender
Panicle
Good Cut
Showy
Leaves
Alternate, rough, and hairy. The leaves have a smooth margin.
Deciduous
Green
Alternate
Entire
Rough
Velvety
Stem
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Wildflower
Herb
Deciduous
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
12 inches-3 feet
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Native Garden
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Small Mammals
Specialized Bees
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Image Gallery
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Attributes
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Wildlife Value
Host plant for the Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) caterpillars which have several broods and appear from April through November in the north and throughout the year in the deep south and Mexico. Flower nectars are attractive to bees and adult Pearl Crescent butterflies (including migrating Monarchs). 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.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Moderate deer resistance.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Fruit
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Fruit Description
The herb produces a dry seed (achene) that displays from October to November.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Flowers
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Flower Description
Large, purple flowers with a yellow center mature from August to October.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Flower Color
Purple/Lavender
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Leaves
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Leaf Description
Alternate, rough, and hairy. The leaves have a smooth margin.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Leaf Color
Green
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Stem
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Stem Description
The stem is fuzzy.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Whole Plant Traits
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Cultural Conditions
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Landscape
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
