Source: Sundaura Alford-Purvis
Plant Names
Symphyotrichum cordifolium
Heart-leaved Aster
Aster à feuilles cordées
Synonyms
blue wood aster
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Blue
Bloom Period: Sep - Oct
Max Height: 3.0 feet
Max Width: 2.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
Less than 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates medium soil condition
Less than 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Spreads by rhizome
Easy to germinate
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Suitable for woodland gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Suitable for woodland gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Ecological Benefits:
Supports pollinators
Butterfly host
Keystone species
Supports pollinators
Butterfly host
Keystone species
Tolerates:
Tolerates foot traffic around the plant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates sandy conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Tolerates foot traffic around the plant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates sandy conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant causes skin rashes
This plant causes skin rashes
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Atlantic Maritime
- Boreal Shield
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Symphyotrichum cordifolium
- Cucullia convexipennis (Brown Hooded Owlet)
- Eupithecia miserulata (American Common Pug)
- Euplexia benesimilis (American Angle Shades)
- Leuconycta diphteroides (Green Leuconycta)
- Phyciodes cocyta (Northern Crescent)
- Trichordestra legitima (Striped Garden Caterpillar)
Specialized Bees Supported by Symphyotrichum cordifolium
- Andrena aliciae
- Andrena asteris
- Andrena canadensis
- Andrena chromotricha
- Andrena hirticincta
- Andrena nubecula
- Andrena placata
- Andrena simplex
- Complexe Colletes americanus
- Complexe Colletes compactus
- Complexe Colletes simulans
- Dianthidium simile
- Melissodes agilis
- Melissodes druriellus
- Melissodes illatus
- Melissodes subillatus
- Melissodes trinodis
- Protandrena andrenoides
- Pseudopanurgus aestivalis
Complementary Plants
- Eurybia divaricata
White Wood Aster
Aster à rameaux étalés - Lobelia inflata
Inflated Tobacco
Lobélie gonflée - Muhlenbergia mexicana
Mexican Muhly
Muhlenbergie du Mexique - Scrophularia marilandica
Eastern/carpenter's Figwort
Scrofulaire du Maryland - Solidago flexicaulis
Zigzag Goldenrod
Verge d'or à tige zigzagante
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Chrysanthemum (Mums)
- Rosa (Non-native Roses)
- Helianthus (Non-Native Sunflower)
- NA (Black Eyed Susan's Cultivars)
- Rudbeckia Triloba (Brown Eyed Susan's)
- Echinacea (Coneflowers)
- NA (Coreopsis cultivars)
- NA (Non-native False Sunflower)
- Symphiotrichum (Non-Native Aster)
- Melilotus albus (Sweet White Clover)
- Hesperis matronalis (Dame Rocket)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Surface sow
- Sow by February
- Stratification duration: 60 days
- Self-seeding
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: October
- Harvesting indicator:
- Seeds have become fluffy and can be easily removed by shaking on gently pulling off from stem
- Harvesting:
- Shake seed head in paper bag
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/4 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
- Harvesting video: Watch here
Toxicity Notes
Inadequate information on toxicity found.