Common Blue Wood Aster
Symphyotrichum cordifolium
Also known as: white arrowleaf aster, Lowrie's Blue Wood Aster
- Native to:
- Canada, Prince Edward I., United States
Chris Light
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Symphyotrichum
- Species:
- Symphyotrichum cordifolium
- USDA Symbol:
- SYCO4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- sep,oct,nov
- Bloom Colors:
- blue, violet, lavender
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
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 (Bombus impatiens) Moths:Acrocercops astericola, Bucculatrix sexnotata
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rhizomes after fire; historically part of fire-maintained woodlands and forest edges.
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
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and do not cover.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
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
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 4C for 3 weeks, then place @ 20C.