Blue Wood Aster is a herbaceous perennial that may grow 3 feet tall. It has narrow, alternate leaves with a toothed margin. Pale blue to violet flowers bloom in large, loose panicles. Pinching back the stems will lead to a bushier plant and hopefully avoid the need for staking. The foliage tends to decline by late summer and it can be cut to the ground to avoid any self-seeding and also to help with appearance. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Some susceptibility to powdery mildew, leaf spots, or rust. Aster wilt can also be an occasional problem if plants are grown in poorly-drained clay soils. Good air circulation helps reduce the incidence of foliar diseases. Taller plants may require staking or other support. More information on Symphyotrichum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Lower leaves are up to 5” long and 3 inches wide and are heart-shaped with coarse teeth. Upper leaves are smaller with an ovate shape and more rounded base.
Flower color
Blue; Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head; Panicle
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
White to pale blue to pale violet flower heads bloom in large, loose panicles. Disk flowers open yellow and turn red over time. Bracts are smooth, narrow, and blunt.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Displays from October to November
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Canada to U.S.A
Wildlife value
Host plant for the Pearl Crescent butterfly. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Songbirds and small mammals eat the seeds. Members of the genus Symphyotrichum support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteris, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) asteroides, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) hirticincta, Andrena (Cnemidandrena) nubecula, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) placata, Andrena (Callandrena s.l.) simplex, and Colletes simulans.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds; Specialized Bees