Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Symphyotrichum
- Species:
- Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 3-4 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- sep, oct, nov
- Bloom Colors:
- Purple, Violet
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
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)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus) Butterflies:American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), 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), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Field Skipper (Atalopedes campestris), Field Skipper (Atalopedes campestris), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Melissa Blue (Plebejus melissa), Melissa Blue (Plebejus melissa), ⚠️Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Sachem (Atalopedes Scudder)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in rocky or sandy prairies and open woods
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).
Notes: Seeds require cold-moist stratification for 30 days before germination.
Source: OpenAI GPT-4o