Alphabetical Plant Listing

Symphyotrichum cordifolium (Blue Wood Aster)

Blue Wood Aster, Heart-Leaf Aster, Aster cordifolius


Symphyotrichum cordifolium (Blue Wood Aster) is a stout herbaceous perennial boasting branched, upright-arching stems topped by profuse clusters of daisy-like flowers in late summer and fall. Blooming for weeks, the flowers, usually less than 1 in. across (2.5 cm), feature golden-yellow centers surrounded by narrow rays ranging from dark blue to pale blue. Borne on smooth stems, their gentle color blends with almost any other color in the garden. The leaves are thin and sharply toothed, the lower leaves being heart-shaped (cordate) and the upper leaves being ovate to lanceolate. Tough and adaptable, Blue Wood Aster is an excellent choice for the mixed border where it makes a beautiful foil for other late-season perennials.

  • Grows with a bushy habit, up to 2-5 ft. tall (60-150 cm) and 2 ft. wide (60 cm). May need staking
  • Thrives in full sun to part shade in moderately fertile, dry to moist, well-drained soils. Prefers moist, rich soils, but avoid consistent moisture. Rabbit and deer resistant!
  • A vital ingredient of late summer and fall borders, cottage gardens, prairies, or butterfly gardens. Asters are also valued for the excellent quality of their cut flowers.
  • Asters are a great source of nectar for butterflies and are a must if you are trying to attract birds or butterflies!
  • Propagate by division in spring. Cut back in late fall.
  • Generally pest free. May suffer Verticillium wilt, powdery mildews, and gray molds
  • Native to eastern and central North America.

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Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 8
Heat Zones 1 – 8
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Aster
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 2' – 5' (60cm – 150cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 24" (60cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

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Great Plant Combination Ideas with Aster

Guides with Aster


By Jose Luis Vega, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 8
Heat Zones 1 – 8
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Aster
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 2' – 5' (60cm – 150cm)
Spread 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spacing 24" (60cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Attracts Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Aster

Guides with Aster

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