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Lebsack, Tom

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

48 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

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: Purple
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

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:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:			FAC			FACU				FACU

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. 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: 0000-00-00
Research By: TWC Staff

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