Dig into Plants: New England Aster

New England Aster

Other Common Names: New England American-aster

Scientific Name: Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Native to Alabama: Yes

Alternate Native Species:
Drummond’s Aster (Symphyotrichum drummondii)
Short’s Aster (Symphyotrichum shortii)

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – James L. Reveal

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BASIC INFORMATION

ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS

MAINTENANCE NOTES

HABITAT REQUIREMENTS

LEAF, FLOWER & SEED ID

PLANT LIFE CYCLE

Basic Plant Information

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Albert F W Vick

I am a vascular plant with no woody stems above ground, so I am herbaceous.
I do not keep leaves year-round, so I am deciduous.
I die back in winter but regrow in spring for many seasons, so I am perennial.
I can grow 3 – 6 feet high and 2 – 3 feet wide.

Ecological Benefits

This plant provides food for:

Butterflies

Native Bees

Caterpillars
Pearl Crescent
Checkerspot Butterflies

Other Birds

Other Plants Found in Alabama with Similar Ecological Benefits:

Broad-leaved Aster
(Symphyotrichum cordifolium)

Drummond’s Aster
(Symphyotrichum drummondii)

Rice Button Aster
(Symphyotrichum dumosumi)

White Heath Aster
(Symphyotrichum ericoides)

Calico Aster
(Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)

Skyblue Aster
(Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)

Willowleaf Aster
(Symphyotrichum praealtum)

Smooth Blue Aster
(Symphyotrichum laeve)

Maintenance Notes

Dormant in winter.
Flowers can be cut for an indoor vase.
Crown division plant in the spring or fall to encourage new growth.
Deadhead individual faded flowers to encourage additional bloom.
When watering, hold hose to base of plant for a count of 5 seconds. Water should reach all roots.
Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves.
Requires moist to wet soil at all times.

Moist to wet soil at all times: water three times per week.

Habitat Requirements

This plant prefers:

Full Sun
(6+ hours of sun per day)

Part Sun/ Shade
(2-6 hours of sun per day)

Prefers moist to wet soil at all times

Well-drained, Sandy, Loamy, Clay, Acidic
or Moist Soil

Leaf, Flower & Seed Identification

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – James L. Reveal

LEAF DESCRIPTION

Hairy; broad base and pointy tips.

Leaf Characteristics Chart (PDF)


Shape: Lanceolate	Margin: Entire/Smooth

Arrangement: Alternate	Form: Simple

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center –Julie Makin

FLOWER DESCRIPTION

Each flower on individual stalk; flower head is about 1.5 inches wide with 40 or more bright petal-like ray flowers around a central yellow disk.

Flower Shape Chart (JPG)


Color: Pink, purple	Shape: Radiate/Ligulate	Bloom Months: Aug – Oct

Seeds of Stoke’s Aster
davesgarden.com – MyGardens2009

SEED DESCRIPTION

Plant spreads by:
Seeds and Rhizomes/ Tubers/ Roots & Shoots
Will spread via roots to form new clumps or via seed.


Type: Fruit – Dry Seed Pod	Description: Papery-brown bracts surround nutlets	Months in Seed: Late Fall/Winter

Plant Life Cycle

Plant Life Cycle:

All plants start life as a seed.
The seed turns into a sprout when it grows roots.
The sprout becomes a seedling as grows a stem and leaves above the ground.
After the seedling becomes an adult plant it will grow flowers.
After the flowers finish blooming, each flower turns into a seed.
When the seeds fall down to the ground, the plant life cycle starts again.
Each seed can become a plant if it has the food, water and space that it needs to grow.

General Plant Life Cycle – Dreamstime

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

Quick Fact Sheet
(Condensed Species Info)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Ready as-is PDF

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Ready as-is PDF

QR Code
(Links to this Webpage)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Editable Word Doc

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Editable Word Doc

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