Symphyotrichum laeve Smooth Blue Aster

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

To view the natural range of Symphyotrichum laevevisit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website.
Seven or eight small blue flowers with many petals. if you look closely you can see the clasping leaves
Symphyotrichum laeve - in the fall notice the clasping leaves
The sun is shinning on a dozen for so Symphyotrichum laeve with pale purple leaves the background is black
Symphyotrichum laeve by Roger Dahlin


Cultivation Information Smooth Blue Aster


Height - 2 to 3 ftFlower Color - BlueBlooms - August to OctoberSun- Part to fullHardy Zone - 3 to 9Soil - Average
Family - Asteraceae
Smooth Blue Asters leaning out of the garden into the grass.
Our front yard a few years back!
Large black bee visiting blue flowers of Smooth Blue Aster.

Wildlife Significance - Smooth Blue Aster

Oligolectic Bees – are bees that are very particular as to what plant family they gather their nectar and pollen. False Sunflower is such a plant for several bees: Andrena accepta, Andrena aliciae, Andrena helianthi, Pseudopanurgus rugosus .
Host Plant - Pearl and Northern Crescent, Various Checkerspots, Painted ladies.
Annual Host Plants - Hollyhocks are also host plants for Painted ladies.
Nectar Source -Skippers, Butterflies: Painted Ladies, Monarchs and Sulphurs.Wasps, flies, moths and beetles provides late fall food for bees (long-tongued and short-tongued)
Queen Bees - Queen Bumble bees visit asters to build up their food reserve enorder to survive the winter.
Pollen Source - Bees, flies, beetles
Deer - Enjoy this plant
For detailed information on this plant visit the Illinois Wildflower website.
Propagation Notes Smooth Blue Aster
Stratifying Symphyotrichum laeve
Information on stratifying Smooth Blue Aster seems to vary. I have had sucess by either sowing outdoors in the fall or cold moist storage starting in November. I would imagine 30 day would be plenty but we find it easier to stratify all of our seeds at once. However, I should mention that stratified seeds are checked once a month. On occasion they have sprouted while in cold storage. If this occurs use a pair of tweezers and gently plant them into your cells. Keeping them moist and out of direct sun for a few days will improve your success rate.
Next to a quarter are a dozen young Smooth Blue Aster seedlings.
Symphyotrichum laeve seedling
Seed Provenance Symphyotrichum laeve
Nodding Onion Gardens 2013 - present. Prairie Moon Nursery - Winona, MN - 2012