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New England Aster - Symphyotrichum
novae-angliae or Aster
novae-angliae
This very common wildflower is one of the most abundant nectar sources
available in fields and meadows of Northern Illinois. Almost every
insect that relies on flowers for nectar visit this plant.
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New England Aster |
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Description: Numerous purple-violet flowers with distinctive orange
centers grow on a branching stalk at the top of the plant. These
perennials are up to 4 feet tall, with dense leaves covered by bristly
hairs. The late-blooming wildflowers attract just about every insect
active in late summer, including butterflies, moths, honeybees,
bumblebees, halictid bees, hoverflies and various other flies, beetles.
These flowers are my favorite for color contrast. The beautiful purple
rays offset with the brilliant deep orange-yellow center provides the
perfect color backdrop for just about any insect photograph.
Bloom time: From August through October.
Butterflies, bumblebees and honeybees love this flower.
These pictures were taken where it grows wild, in the
forest preserves near Chicago, Illinois. There are quite
a few cultivated versions of this plant available for
home gardens. Likes moist, well-drained soil, grows best
in full sun. Mix with goldenrod or native grasses for a
stunning Autumn display.
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'Purple Dome' is a compact, bushy
version with very dark purple flowers, sometimes
double. Blooms September - October. Good cut flower,
grows in sun or light shade.
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'Lachsglut' has large, stunning
hot pink flowers. Grows to 4 feet in full sun.
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- Native:
- NORTHERN AMERICA
Eastern Canada: Canada -
Ontario, Quebec
Western Canada: Canada -
Manitoba [s.]
Northeastern U.S.A.: United
States - Connecticut, Indiana, Maine,
Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New
Jersey,
New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
Vermont, West Virginia
North-Central U.S.A.: United
States -
Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, South Dakota,
Wisconsin
Northwestern U.S.A.: United
States - Colorado, Wyoming
Southeastern U.S.A.: United
States - Alabama [n.],
Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland,
Mississippi, North Carolina,
South Carolina,
Tennessee, Virginia
South-Central U.S.A.: United
States -
New Mexico
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Uses:
Ethnobotanic: A decoction of the plant has been used
in the treatment of weak skin (Moerman 1998). A
poultice has been used in the treatment of pain,
fevers, and diarrhea.
Wildlife: New England aster is known for attracting
butterflies and moths to areas where it is found
growing. This is a good bee plant providing nectar
in the autumn. Most species in this genus seem to be
immune to the predications of rabbits
Description
General: Aster family (Asteraceae). New England
aster (Aster novae-angliae) is a perennial with
several erect stems in clumps, stems 0.8 to 2
meters, densely spreading pubescent, thirty or more
nodes below the branches of the inflorescence
(Radford, Ahles & Bell 1968). The leaves are
lanceolate to elliptic lanceolate, two to nine
centimeters long and one to two centimeters wide.
The disc flowers are yellow, hermaphrodite (having
both male and female organs) and are pollinated by
bees, butterflies, flies, beetles and moths.
Distribution: Aster novae-angliae ranges from Quebec
to Alberta, south to North Carolina, Alabama,
Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico
(Steyermark 1963). For current distribution, please
consult the Plant profile page for this species on
the PLANTS Web site.
Adaptation
This plant is commonly found in moist prairies,
meadows, roadsides and streams (Dension 1998). It
requires well-drained soil and prefers sandy, loamy
and clay soils. This species can grow on
nutritionally poor soil but prefers rich soil. New
England aster grows well in a sunny location and can
succeed in partial shade.
Establishment
Propagation by Seed: Aster novae-angliae seeds
should be sown fresh in the fall or spring (Heuser
1997). Pre-chill spring sown seeds to improve
germination (Ibid.). When the seedlings are large
enough to handle, place them into individual pots
and plant them out in the summer.
Division of this species should be done in the
spring or autumn. Large divisions can be planted
into their permanent positions whereas smaller
clumps should be kept in a cold frame until they are
growing well.
Management
Divisions of Aster novae-angliae species should be
done in the spring every three years to maintain
vigor (Heuser 1997). [1]
References:
1.
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program.
Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN)
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