Symphyotrichum laeve

Scientific Name: Symphyotrichum laeve

Common Name: Smooth Blue Aster

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Blooming Time: August to October

Bloom Duration: 6 to 8 weeks

Fragrance: No noticeable fragrance

Plant Growing Habit: Upright, clump-forming

Characteristics: A hardy North American native perennial with smooth, blue-green foliage and masses of lavender-blue, daisy-like flowers with bright yellow centres that mature to reddish-purple. An outstanding late-season nectar source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, including migrating monarch butterflies. The attractive foliage is often resistant to deer and rabbits. Ideal for native gardens, prairie plantings, pollinator gardens, borders, and naturalized landscapes.

Spacing: 45 to 60 cm apart

Height: 60 to 120 cm

Width: 45 to 60 cm

Maintenance Requirements: Low maintenance. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil but tolerates a wide range of soil types, including sandy, rocky, and clay soils. Water regularly during establishment; once established, it is drought-tolerant. Pinch back stems in late spring if a shorter, bushier plant is desired. Cut back old stems in late fall or early spring before new growth begins, or leave seed heads standing to provide winter interest and habitat for wildlife. Fertilization is rarely needed, and excessive fertility can lead to floppy growth. Hardy and well-suited to Canadian gardens in Zones 3–8.

Images Courtesy of Ball Horticultural Company of Ball Seed or www.ballseed.com