Smooth Aster

Symphyotrichum laeve

small purple smooth aster flowers with yellow centers
“Smooth Blue Aster (symphyotrichium laeve)” by Joshua Mayer, via Flickr. (cropped from original). CC BY-SA 2.0.
bush of many smooth asters in lavender color
“Prairie Dropseed & Smooth aster” by Anne McCormack, via Flickr. CC BY-NC 2.0.

Ecological Benefits: hosts the Pearl Crescent Butterfly, attracts pollinators such as specialized bees and other butterflies, seeds feed birds and small mammals

Bloom period: mid-late fall

Best Areas for Planting: low to mid-moisture, full sun, well-drained clay, loamy, and sandy soil

Natural Habitat: can be found in upland forests, woodlands, barrens, or clearings

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.