Smooth Blue Aster

Additional Details

Characteristics

Growth Form: Wildflower

Evergreen or Deciduous: Deciduous

Light Requirements: Sun

Soil Texture: Clay, Sand

Moisture Requirements: Dry

Drought Tolerant: Yes

Compaction Tolerant: No

Salt Tolerant: No

Juglone (Walnut) Tolerant: No

Habitat Considerations

Ecozone(s): Boreal Shield, Atlantic Maritime, Mixedwood Plains, Boreal Plains, Prairies, Montane Cordillera

Natural Habitat(s): Woodland, Savannah, Forest Edge, Prairie/Meadow/Field, Alvar

Human Habitat(s): Rooftop Garden (drought tolerant/shallow rooted), Butterfly, Bird, Prairie/Meadow

Design Considerations

Minimum Height: 30 cm

Maximum Height: 120 cm

Bloom Time: Aug - Nov

Flower Colour(s): Blue|Purple

Showy Flowers: Yes

Showy Fruit/Seeds: No

Fruit/Seed Colour(s): Purple|Brown

Erosion Control:

Larval Host: Pearly Crescent (Phycioides tharos)

Fragrant Flowers: Yes

Fragrant Foliage:

Fall Colour(s): No

Bark: No

Poisonous to Humans:

Thorns or Prickles: No

Attracts Wildlife: Birds, Butterflies, Butterfly Larvae

Invasive Species: No

Conservation Status

Plant Watch Species:

NatureServe Level:

IUCN Red Alert Status:

Interesting Tidbits

Interesting Tidbits: It has smooth bright green foliage. In Labrador. Not native to Quebec but now present. Garden Uses: This species may be one of the more beautiful and more refined of wild asters, seeming like an ornamental cultivar, with smooth almost rubbery bluish green leaves (hense its name) and unique colour of its violet flowers. (Evergreen) Habitat Info: It is often seen as a plant associated with alvar habitats, such as those on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, inhabiting alvars on bare alvar rock pavement with little soil, a habitat susceptible to seasonal flooding, and intense drought. (Evergreen) Alvars are a globally imperilled habitat only occuring around the great lakes, and in Sweden. (Couchiching Conservancy). This is a favoured forage for white tailed deer. (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) Smooth aster responds well in early spring after fire distrubance, easily resprouting by rhizomes, less adaptable in late spring. (USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service) Insect Relationships: Coleoptera (Beetles), Chrysomelidae (Ophraella pilosa). (Illinois Wildflowers) Traditional Edible, Medicinal Uses: There is little information on the edible and medicinal qualities of this plant. (Evergreen) Green Roof: This drought hardy plant has been grown in soil levels 5 inches and up with excellent results. (Evergreen)

Plant Species

Smooth Blue Aster

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