• A close-up of a single bloom of Leafy Aster (Symphyotrichum foliaceum) shows its distinct lavender petals radiating around a golden-yellow center ringed by reddish disc florets. The flower’s broad, slightly overlapping petals create a full daisy-like shape, while the background reveals blurred green foliage.
  • A cluster of Leafy Aster (Symphyotrichum foliaceum) grows upright in rocky, bare soil. The narrow, green leaves climb up the dark purple stems, supporting multiple bright purple blooms with yellow centers. The flowers stand out brightly against the pale, gravelly ground.
  • The Leafy Aster (Symphyotrichum foliaceum) plant displays a tall, narrow habit with multiple leafy stems rising from the base. Numerous purple, daisy-like flowers with yellow centers dot the stems, contrasting sharply with the dry, rocky soil and sparse vegetation surrounding it.
  • A sprawling patch of Leafy Aster (Symphyotrichum foliaceum) is nestled among fall-colored leaves in a forest clearing. Dozens of bright lavender flowers with yellow centers create a soft, colorful carpet through the green and red foliage, bringing a late-season burst of color to the woodland floor.
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Wild About Flowers

Symphyotrichum foliaceum - Leafy Aster

Symphyotrichum foliaceum - Leafy Aster

$5.50 CAD
$5.50 CAD
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Leafy Aster is a hardy, late-blooming perennial with bright lavender blue to violet, daisy-like flowers set against dense, purple-tinged leafy stems. Its lush foliage creates a vibrant backdrop for the blooms, adding color and texture to the late-season garden. Leafy Aster provides vital nectar for native bees, bumblebees, and butterflies ”including migrating Monarchs” when few other flowers remain. Seeds are eaten by small birds such as finches, and it serves as a larval host for several moth species. Its leafy stems and showy flowers make it an excellent filler in pollinator gardens, naturalized plantings, and mixed borders.

With long-lasting color and strong ecological value, Leafy Aster is a practical and beautiful choice for rural landscapes and larger urban gardens where there is room for its natural spread. Moderately deer-resistant due to its coarse, tough foliage, though tender new growth may be browsed in spring.

How Easy Is This Plant to Grow?

Germination Difficulty: Beginner
Growing Difficulty: Beginner
Speed of Growth: Fast
Age to First Bloom: 2

Plant Sizes & Blooming Window

Important Information - The "Plant Sizes" are provided as a general guideline for plant selection. The "Blooming Window" indicates the general period when the species is in bloom, not how long an individual plant will flower.

Plant growth and bloom times will vary depending on geographical location & individual site conditions. Please scroll down to see the specific information for this plant.

Edible & Medicinal Info Disclaimer

The Edible & Medicinal information on this site is for informational purposes only and should not be acted on without thorough research and professional guidance. We are not responsible for any adverse effects resulting from the use of or misidentification of plants.

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Plant Specifics

Seeds Per Pack

25

Light Conditions

  • Part Shade
  • Sun

Soil Conditions

  • Moist
  • Rich
  • Well Drained
  • Loam
  • Gravelly
  • Seasonally Moist

Height

  • 12" - 24"
  • 24" - 36"

Width

  • Spreading

Bloom Colour

  • Lavender Blue
  • Purple

Month of Bloom

  • July
  • August
  • Septemeber

Vigorousness

  • Moderate
  • Fast

Deer Resistance

  • Moderate

Features

  • Birds
  • Butterflies
  • Bees
  • Fall Color
  • Rural Spaces

Chinook Exposure

  • Fully Exposed

Distribution Info

Native to western and central North America, Leafy Aster is found from BC, to MB and south through the western U.S. Rocky Mountains and into the Great Plains. It occurs in moist meadows, open woodlands, along streambanks, forest edges, and mountain slopes from low to high elevations in mountainous regions.

Traditional Edible & Medicinal Info

Symphyotrichum foliaceum has no well documented edible or medicinal uses.