Symphyotrichium laeve, Smooth Aster, Quart pot

Symphyotrichium laeve, Smooth Aster

FS-PS, Zone 3, blooms August-September, 4’ x 1.5-2’. medium wet to medium dry

Symphyotrichum laeve, commonly called smooth aster, is a Michigan native that typically occurs in prairies, rocky glades, dry open woods, roadside banks and thickets. Smooth Aster grows by fibrous roots that allow the plant to spread slowly. It is a long-lived perennial with blue-green foliage and sometimes the stems are bluish as well. The tough stem allows Smooth Aster to stand tall during its long late summer to mid fall bloom. Called Smooth Aster, because the leaves are indeed smooth to the touch unlike most asters which are usually rough. We suggest planting all three types of asters in your pollinator garden to ensure that you have sufficient late-season nectar and pollen available for insects.

Attracts a wide variety of butterflies, native bees, honey bees, flies, bee flies, soldier beetles and the seeds are often eaten by birds. Asters host caterpillars of the Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly, Pearl Crescent Butterfly and several species of moths.