Common Blue Wood Aster

Symphyotrichum cordifolium

Also known as: white arrowleaf aster, Lowrie's Blue Wood Aster

Nadiatalent

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Asteraceae
Genus:: Symphyotrichum
Species:: Symphyotrichum cordifolium

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Forb/herb
Height:: 4-6 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:: Medium
Bloom Months:: jun, jul, aug, sep, oct, nov
Bloom Colors:: Purple

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★★☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Bee Keystone:: ★★☆☆☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Acrocercops astericola, Asymmetrura impositella, Asymmetrura matutella, Coleophora dextrella, Coleophora duplicis, Dichomeris levisella, Dichomeris ochripalpella, Parectopa pennsylvaniella, Tischeria astericola

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) Butterflies:American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), American Snout (Libytheana carinenta), American Snout (Libytheana carinenta), (Pieris rapae), (Pieris rapae), Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus), Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus), Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Checkered-skipper (Burnsius communis), Common Checkered-skipper (Burnsius communis), Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole), Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus), Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus), Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis), ⚠️Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Northern White-Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum), Northern White-Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska), Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Queen (Danaus gilippus), Queen (Danaus gilippus), Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola), Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia), Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella), Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis), Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:: 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:: tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:: consistently moist
Notes:: prefers woodland edges and shaded areas

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: No pre-treatment required, but stratification may speed up germination

Establishment: Seeds were collected from Natchez Trace Parkway, from around Jackson, Mississippi to the terminus in Natchez, Mississippi. The plant is generally found from Nova Scotia to Minnesota, south to Georgia and Missouri.

Source: npn.rngr.net