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Western Aster

Symphyotrichum ascendens

Western aster is a rhizomatous aster of meadows and sagebrush flats across the Intermountain West, with lavender-blue rays for late-season pollinators.

Family
Asteraceae
Type
wildflower
Lifespan
perennial
Height
1–2.5 ft
Spacing
1–1.5 ft apart
Light
sun
Soil moisture
dry, moist
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Bloom
August, September
Bloom colors
purple, blue
Wildlife value
pollinators, butterflies, songbirds, larval host
Landscape uses
border, erosion control, naturalizing
Native states
AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY