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
- moist
- Soil pH
- neutral, alkaline
- Bloom
- July, August, September, October
- Bloom colors
- purple
- Wildlife value
- pollinators, butterflies, songbirds, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~109 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- border, erosion control, naturalizing
- Native states
- AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NE, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
Related native plants
More Symphyotrichum species
- New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
- Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)
- Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium)
- Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides)
- Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)
- Pacific Aster (Symphyotrichum chilense)