All flowers
Heart-leaf Aster Wikimedia Commons
Asteraceae

Heart-leaf Aster

Symphyotrichum cordifolium

Love and patience.

Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Symphyotrichum
Native to
Eastern North America
Bloom season
Fall
Type
perennial herb
Height
2-5 ft
Sunlight
part shade to full shade
Soil
average, well-drained to slightly moist
Water
moderate
Hardiness
3-8
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The heart-shaped basal leaves that give this aster its name can be up to 5 inches wide and are distinctive among fall asters.
  • It is one of the best native asters for shady conditions, blooming profusely in woodland edges where few other fall flowers thrive.
  • A single plant can produce over 1,000 tiny flower heads, each about half an inch across, creating a cloud of blue in autumn.
  • Heart-leaf Aster is a critical late-season nectar source for migrating monarch butterflies and native bees preparing for winter.
  • The plant was formerly classified as Aster cordifolius before the entire North American aster group was reclassified into Symphyotrichum.

Color meanings

0

afterthought

1

daintiness

Uses

  • woodland gardens
  • native plant landscapes
  • pollinator support in fall