Symphyotrichum laeve

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Symphyotrichum laeve | smooth blue aster

Smooth blue aster blooms late in the season, typically until frost. Flowers are a soft lavender-blue with yellow centers. This species gets its common name because its foliage lacks the fine leaf hairs common to asters. This trait unfortunately makes it slightly more appealing to deer and rabbits than many of its aster relatives, but it spreads slowly and persists for many years, making it a quite a useful aster for small gardens. Topping out at 3-4’, this aster pairs well with little bluestem in a sunny, dry garden.

LOCAL ECOTYPE

Container Size:

Symphyotrichum laeve | smooth blue aster

Smooth blue aster blooms late in the season, typically until frost. Flowers are a soft lavender-blue with yellow centers. This species gets its common name because its foliage lacks the fine leaf hairs common to asters. This trait unfortunately makes it slightly more appealing to deer and rabbits than many of its aster relatives, but it spreads slowly and persists for many years, making it a quite a useful aster for small gardens. Topping out at 3-4’, this aster pairs well with little bluestem in a sunny, dry garden.

LOCAL ECOTYPE

HABIT

Height: 3-4’

Bloom Time: mid-summer to fall

SITE CONDITIONS

Light: full sun, part shade

Soil: medium-wet, average, medium-dry

CULTIVATION TIPS

Establishment: spreads slowly, but long-lasting and not as aggressive as other native asters

Deer Resistance: moderate

INTERACTIONS

Pollinator Support: very high

Other: host plant for silvery checkerspot butterfly, pearl crescent butterfly

CONSERVATION

Native Range: local ecotype

Seed Origin: New York and CT