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Smith, R.W.

Symphyotrichum oolentangiense

Symphyotrichum oolentangiense (Riddell) G.L. Nesom

Skyblue Aster, Sky Blue American-aster, Azure Aster, Blue Devils

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SYOO

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

A 1-5 ft. aster with flower head arranged in an elongate spreading cluster. Each "flower" is made up of 10-20 pale-lavender rays surrounding a yellow center. Lower leaves are elongate and somewhat heart-shaped.

From the Image Gallery

12 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 5 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: Blue , Purple , Violet
Bloom Time: Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , LA , MI , MN , MO , MS , NE , NY , OH , OK , SD , TN , TX , WI
Canada: ON
Native Distribution: W. NY to AL, w. to MN, e. KS & TX
Native Habitat: # Found at edges of woods, in open woods and prairies, and along roadsides; dry, sandy or rocky sites.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Mesic to dry, average soils.
Conditions Comments: Sky Blue Aster has numerous spreading flower branches with flowers on long stalks that bloom late summer to fall. The flowers have deep blue to lavender petals surrounding a yellow disk that are especially appealing to gardeners and butterflies. Plant in average, dry to moist, well-drained soil in full sun.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: No

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

Description: Sow seeds, 5/8" deep, outside in fall or provide cold stratification. Also propagated by "softwood" cuttings taken in late spring.
Commercially Avail: yes

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

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

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-27
Research By: JMS

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