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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Symphyotrichum ascendens

Symphyotrichum ascendens (Lindl.) G.L. Nesom

Western Aster, Western American-aster, Purple Aster, Pacific Aster

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens

USDA Symbol: SYAS3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

The ascending branches of this slender-stemmed, 8-24 in. perennial, bear narrow leaves and 6 in. flower spikes composed of showy, 2 in. wide pink to purplish flowers.

 

From the Image Gallery

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Yellow , Blue , Purple , Violet
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Disc florets yellow, sometimes tinged purple.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NE , NM , NV , OR , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC , SK
Native Distribution: Sask. to s.e. WA, s. to CO, n. AZ & c. CA
Native Habitat: Moist or dry meadows or woodland openings; 250-7000 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist to drier soils.
Conditions Comments: This plant is not reliably drought tolerant.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FAC FACU FACU
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1990 VOL. 7, NO.4 - Research Update, Wild-Collecting Endangers Natives, Director's Report, Maryland ...

Additional resources

USDA: Find Symphyotrichum ascendens in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Symphyotrichum ascendens in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Symphyotrichum ascendens

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-19
Research By: TWC Staff

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