Summary ²

Symphyotrichum oolentangiense or Aster azureus (common name skyblue aster or azure aster) is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae, native to North American Atlantic Region.

Description ³

Family:
Asteraceae (Aster)

Height:
12 to 40 inches

Leaves:
Leaves have a fine sandpaper feel on either side and are toothless. Basal and lower stem leaves are mostly arrowhead to narrowly heart shaped, 4 inches long and 1¾ inches wide.

Flower:
Flowers can be found at the top of their stems in branching clusters and are around ½ to ¾ inches. They are a pale blue to bright blue-violet in color with 10 to 25 petals and a yellow center that turns reddish with age.

Bloom time:
August-October

Habitat:
part shade, sun; dry sandy or rocky soil; prairies, savannas, open woods, woodland edges

Wildlife Benefits:
Provides food and habitat for birds and other small animals. The seeds are eaten and shelter can be found in the dried stalks.

Can I plant this in my garden?
Sky blue aster can do well in most soils and enjoys full sun to light shade.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphyotrichum_oolentangiense
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/sky-blue-aster

Range ³

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Erin Faulkner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Erin Faulkner
2. 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_oolentangiense
3. (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)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

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