New England Aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Taxonomy

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

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Forb/herb
Height:: 6-8 ft
Light Requirements:: Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:: High
Bloom Months:: aug, sep, oct
Bloom Colors:: Pink, Purple

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming, Canada: British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, 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

Asymmetrura impositella, Clemens' clepsis moth (Clepsis clemensiana), Cucullia alfarata, Loxostege commixtalis, Northern Flower Moth (Schinia septentrionalis), Phaneta essexana, Phaneta tomonana, Phtheochroa marloffiana, Phycitodes albatella, Sonia canadana, sparganothis fruitworm moth (Sparganothis sulfureana), Xenotemna pallorana, Charidryas gorgone, Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Bombus rufocinctus (Bombus rufocinctus), Bombus rufocinctus (Bombus rufocinctus), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), bumblebee (Bombus Latreille), bumblebee (Bombus Latreille), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Drury's long-horned bee (Melissodes druriellus), Drury's long-horned bee (Melissodes druriellus), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Lemon cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus citrinus), Lemon cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus citrinus), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:: 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:: good drainage preferred
Moisture:: consistently moist
Notes:: Thrives in prairies and meadows

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Mix the seeds with an equal amount of moist perlite or vermiculite in a sealable plastic bag or container. Cold store at 34-42 degrees F for 1-4 months. If unable to plant in the fall due to weather, store the seed dry in cold storage.

Establishment: Seeds are collected from locally native plants or from nursery stock. The plant flowers from July to August and seed is harvested from September to November. The protocols vary slightly in temperature settings and seed treatment methods.

Source: npn.rngr.net