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Native Plant Society of Texas

Fall Aster

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium

Aromatic Aster

Courtesy: Brundage, Stephanie, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=47553
Courtesy: Brundage, Stephanie, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=47553
Photo Credit: Claire Sorenson
Photo Credit: Claire Sorenson
Courtesy: Strickland, Sam C., https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=19408
Courtesy: Strickland, Sam C., https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=19408
NPSOT NTX, NLCP Level 1; Marie-Theres Herz; Herbarium Sheet
NPSOT NTX, NLCP Level 1; Marie-Theres Herz; Herbarium Sheet
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Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map (hover for ecoregion names)

Native Habitat: Grassland
Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Texas Blackland Prairies

Maintenance

Spring: Thin, divide, and transplant. Summer: Cut back by 1/2 before July 4 for a more compact form. Cut back to maintain walkways and other rights-of-way. Winter: Prune dead material down to new growth in early February.

Comments

Dazzling purple mounds in fall. Slowly colonizes by stolons, thin regularly to control. Gets top heavy, good idea to keep it thick by pruning it back in June. Fall flowers are a great nectar source for migrating monarchs & other butterflies.

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

1 to
3 ft

Spread

2 to
3 ft

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Rocky, Calcareous, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Season

Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Moths, Bees

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Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonyn/s: Aster kumleinii, Aster oblongifolius, Aster oblongifolius var. angustatus, Aster oblongifolius var. orientis, Aster oblongifolius var. rigidulus, Lasallea oblongifolia, Virgulus oblongifolius

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SYOB. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Symphyotrichum+oblongifolium&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=4558&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=522228#null, 6) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014.

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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