Smooth Blue Aster
The smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for perennial wildflower that is native to North America. It is known for its smooth, hairless leaves and its clusters of small, lavender-blue flowers that bloom in late summer and fall. Here is an image:
The smooth blue aster is a valuable addition to any garden, as it provides nectar and pollen for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. It is also deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, making it a low-maintenance plant.
Here are some of the key characteristics of the smooth blue aster:
- Height: 2-4 feet
- Spread: 1-2 feet
- Bloom time: Late summer to fall
- Flower color: Lavender-blue
- Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil moisture: Moist to well-drained
- USDA hardiness zones: 3-8
If you are looking for a beautiful and easy-to-care-for wildflower to add to your garden, the smooth blue aster is a great choice.
The smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) is native to a vast swathe of North America, spanning from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast and from southern Canada down to the Gulf Coast. Here's a breakdown of the states where it's native:
Eastern US:
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Northeast: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland
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Mid-Atlantic: Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
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Southeast: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
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Great Lakes: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Central US:
- Great Plains: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas
Western US:
- Rocky Mountains: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico
- Pacific Northwest: Idaho, Washington, Oregon
This is not an exhaustive list, but it gives you a good idea of the wide range of the smooth blue aster's native habitat. If you're interested in learning more about its specific distribution in a particular state, you can consult the USDA Plants Database or a native plant nursery in your area.
