Plant Names
Symphyotrichum sericeum
Western Silvery Aster
Aster soyeux
Synonyms
silky aster
western silver aster
western silver-leaved aster
Plant Characteristics
Couleur de floraison: Violet
Bloom Period: Sep - Oct
Hauteur max: 1,0 feet
Max Width: 2,0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
Plus de 6 heures d'ensoleillement par jour
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolère des conditions de sol sec
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Vivace
des plantes qui reviennent année après année
Gardener Experience:
Ne se propage pas de manière incontrôlable
Spreads by rhizome
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for Right of Way gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Ecological Benefits:
Butterfly host
Keystone species
Tolerates:
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant is septic tank safe
This plant causes skin rashes
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
Nous acceptions les semences de cette plante
Faits intéressants
Western Silvery Aster is distinguished by its silvery, hairy leaves and stems. It produces daisy-like flowers in shades of lavender, violet or pale purple with yellow centres from late summer into fall. The silvery foliage is an adaptation to dry, sunny conditions and gives the plant an attractive appearance even when it is not flowering. It is an excellent choice for a rairie garden, dry border, sandy garden or sunny slope. It forms a relatively compact clump and is generally well behaved. It is very drought tolerant once established. It requires excellent drainage, particularly through winter. It does not need rich soil as overly rich soil can encourage weak, floppy growth.
Plant Location
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Thrives in Ecozones
- Bouclier boréal
- Plaines à forêts mixtes
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Symphyotrichum sericeum
-
Cucullia convexipennis
Brown Hooded Owlet - Noctuelle Huppée de la Verge d'Or -
Eupithecia miserulata
American Common Pug -
Euplexia benesimilis
American Angle Shades -
Leuconycta diphteroides
Green Leuconycta -
Phyciodes cocyta
Northern Crescent - Croissant Nordique -
Trichordestra legitima
Striped Garden Caterpillar
Specialized Bees Supported by Symphyotrichum sericeum
- 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
- No complementary plants found.
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: November
- Harvesting indicator:
- Seeds have become fluffy and can be easily removed by shaking on gently pulling off from stem
- Harvesting:
- Secouer le porte-graines dans un sac de papier
- Seed viability test:
- Pas de test requis avant le don
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/4 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Sécher à l'air dans un sac en papier ou contenant ouvert, pour quelques jours jusqu'à sec
- Secouer de temps à autre pour prévenir la moisissure
- Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
- No harvesting video available at this time.
Toxicity Notes
Inadequate information on toxicity found.
Canadensis