Summary ³

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, the aromatic aster, is a species of Aster native to parts of eastern and central United States. It is found in parts of Kansas,Ohio, northern Illinois, hilly parts of southern Illinois, and on the banks of the Mississippi River and Illinois River, as well as other parts of the central United States, for example, in Missouri and other places including along the Ohio River, from Pennsylvania to Nebraska to Minnesota to Virginia.

Description ⁴

Family:
Asteraceae (Aster)

Height:
1 to 2 feet

Leaves:
Leaves are greenish-gray and sparsely hairy, with pointed tips. Leaves are oblong and narrow (½” wide and up to 2½” long), and become smaller as they ascend the hairy main stem.

Flower:
Violet-blue flowers (1-1½” across), with 15-40 petals which surround a yellow center, emerge in clusters of several flowers from the ends of the main stems.

Bloom time:
August-October

Nicknames:
Fall Aster

Habitat:
Aromatic Aster grows best in full sun, in soils that are well-drained to dry, and rocky or sandy. It will tolerate both nutrient poor and high pH (basic) soils. It is commonly found in prairies, outcrops, open woods, dunes, and roadsides.

Wildlife Benefits:
Nectar and pollen source for bees. Nectar source for butterflies. Caterpillars and other larvae feed on foliage. Food source for birds, deer, and other small mammals.

Can I plant this in my garden?
This plant does best in full sun, in dry, nutrient poor soils; however, it can do well in moister or more fertile soils given adequate drainage and enough open space.

References
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/aromatic-aster
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/aromatic_asterx.htm
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/symphyotrichum-oblongifolium/

Range ⁴

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Bob O'Kennon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Bob O'Kennon
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_oblongifolium
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
• eFloras.org
• 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)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• World Flora Online

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