Smooth Blue Aster

Smooth Blue Aster is a durable native perennial that blooms when many plants fade, brightening late summer and fall with soft blue-lavender flowers. It’s a strong choice for sunny borders, meadow edges, and pollinator corridors.

• When to sow: Late fall through early spring for natural cold exposure. Indoors, start 8–10 weeks before last frost.
• Light: Full sun (6+ hours). Tolerates partial shade but flowers best in full sun.
• Soil: Average to lean, well-drained soils; adapts to sandy or clay sites with good drainage.
• Water: Keep evenly moist through germination. Moderate drought tolerance once established.
• Depth: Press onto the surface or cover very lightly (1/8"). Seeds benefit from light exposure.
• Spacing: 18–24" apart.

Optional: 30–60 days cold stratification can improve germination, especially for spring sowing.

Symphyotrichum laeve is a high-value late-season nectar source for native bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Smooth stems and clean foliage give it a refined, architectural presence—especially when woven with grasses or paired with golden fall bloomers.

• Hardiness Zones: 3-8.
• Height: 2–4 feet.
• Bloom window: Late summer through fall.
• Wildlife: Bees, butterflies; seeds for songbirds later in the season.
• Habit: Upright, clumping perennial; may form colonies over time.
• Best uses: Meadow edges, borders, matrix plantings, pollinator corridors.

Leave stems standing through winter for habitat and structure. Cut back in late winter or early spring once temperatures warm.