Symphyotrichum novae anglais, New England Aster, Quart pot

Symphyotrichum novae anglais, New England Aster

FS-PS, Zone 4, blooms August - October, 4.5 ‘x 3’, wet to drought tolerant.

This aster has hairy stems and a distinctive structure where the leaves clasp the stem, almost encircling it. Flowering occurs from August to November, with the lower leaves often withering by the time of flowering. The abundant flower heads are showy with yellow disc florets at the center and ray florets that range from a deep purple or rose pink to rarely white. Easy to grow and a late season showstopper for humans and a buffet for pollinators. The seeds and nectar of this fall-flowering species are important to a wide variety of animals. Cut flowers from asters will last a week or two in the vase.

Attracts a wide variety of generalist nectar-feeding insects, including butterflies, moths, soldier beetles, ants, flies, honey bees and native bees. Because of how the nectar develops and rises up the flower tubes, it is heavily visited by different types of long and short-tongued bumblebees. Asters host caterpillars of the Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly, Pearl Crescent Butterfly and several species of moths.