Description
Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) is a hardy native perennial that lights up the fall garden with daisy-like blooms in soft purplish-blue from September through frost. Growing 2 to 4 feet tall, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils, and is drought-tolerant once established.
This aster is a pollinator magnet, supporting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects late in the season. It also serves as a host plant for butterfly species like the Silvery Checkerspot and Pearl Crescent. While it self-seeds readily, it’s a non-aggressive spreader, making it ideal for borders, prairie-style plantings, and pollinator gardens.
Native across the central and eastern U.S., this low-maintenance wildflower adds structure, color, and ecological value to any native landscape.
Also known as: Smooth Aster, Glaucous Aster, and Michaelmas Daisy.
