Summary ³

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (syn. Aster lanceolatus) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to North America, and has been introduced to Europe. Common names include panicled aster, tall white aster, eastern line aster, lance-leaf aster, narrow-leaf Michaelmas daisy, and white-panicle aster.

Description ⁴

Family:
Asteraceae (Aster)

Height:
1 to 5 feet

Leaves:
Leaves are dark green, lance-shaped (up to 4” long), and pointed, occasionally with a few widely-spaced teeth on the margins. Stem leaves brown and curl later in the season, often remaining on the plant.

Flower:
Clusters of up to 20 white flowers emerge from the top of the plant. Flowers (up to ¾” across) have 16-50 narrow white to bluish-white petals and a yellow center.

Bloom time:
July-October

Nicknames:
Eastern Panicled Aster, White Panicled Aster, Lance-leaved Aster

Habitat:
Panicled Aster grows best in partial to full sun and moist soils, and thrives in areas with periodic standing water. It can survive in most soil types, and will usually tolerate more well-drained soils. It is commonly found in moist prairies, wet meadows, fens, woodland edges, wetlands and marshes, along shores, and in a variety of disturbed areas.

Wildlife Benefits:
Nectar and pollen attract many species of bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, and beetles. Several species of insect feed on its foliage. Songbirds, gamefowl, small mammals, and especially deer, rely on its foliage as a food source.

Can I plant this in my garden?
This plant will thrive in nearly any type of soil, given adequate moisture and sunlight. It is beneficial to a wide variety of pollinators and other insects, as well as birds and mammals. As a result, it may be subject to damage from herbivory.

References
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/panicled-aster
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/pan_asterx.htm

Range ⁴

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Tony Frates, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyfrates/14816917024/
2. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, all rights reserved, uploaded by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
3. Adapted by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphyotrichum_lanceolatum
4. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Calflora
• CalPhotos
• eFloras.org
• Flora Digital de Portugal
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Jepson eFlora
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• NBN Atlas
• New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
• OregonFlora.org
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

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