Symphyotrichum lanceolatum - Willow Aster

Willow Aster is a tall, graceful perennial that blooms from late summer into fall, producing masses of pale lavender to white, daisy-like flowers with golden-yellow centers. Slender, willow-like leaves line its sturdy, branching stems, creating a soft, airy appearance. Thriving in moist soils, this hardy native provides vital late-season nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Its dense flower clusters support heavy pollinator activity well into fall, while seeds provide food for finches and other small birds. It also serves as a larval host for several moth species.

Willow Aster prefers moist habitats such as streambanks, marsh edges, ditches, and low-lying prairies. Best suited to wet meadows, rain gardens, and naturalized lowland plantings where its spreading habit is beneficial. Its vigorous nature makes it ideal for stabilizing soils and filling large areas. Moderately deer-resistant due to its coarse foliage and robust stems, though young growth may be browsed occasionally.