New England Aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

skinny purple petals of new england aster with an insect collecting nectar
“20151006_165747” by clare_and_ben, via Flickr. CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0.
large new england aster plant with bright purple flowers
“New England Aster” by Bill Rogers, via Flickr. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Ecological Benefits: Attracts pollinators such as specialized bees, flies, and Monarch Butterflies, host plant of Pearl Crescent caterpillars, seeds feed birds and mammals

Bloom period: mid- to late fall

Best Areas for Planting: medium moisture, full sun; well-drained, soils of clay and rich in organic matter

Natural Habitat: can be found in wet environments such as fens, spring marshes, meadows, and fields

Most of the species information is from The Virginia Native Plant Society website, which offers free, extensive pdfs for each region of Virginia, highlighting about 100 native species (there are many more!) and helpful additional information for planning personal projects. If you aren’t from Virginia, you can search for similar resources in your state! To explore other resources and advice, navigate to the guidance page.

Visit the homepage to explore other sites and learn more about native plants.