New England Aster Information:
- Scientific Name: Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, formerly Aster novae-angliae
- Common Name: New England Aster, Michaelmas daisy
- Origin: Eastern North America
- Current Status: Naturalized in most of North America and parts of Europe
Asters – The World’s Largest Plant Family
Aster is the generic name for a family of flowers that makes up almost 10% of Earth’s flowering plants.
Fall Food
The aster is the official flower of the month of September and a huge contributor of nectar for Monarch butterflies before they migrate south.
New England or New York
There are over 600 species of Asters, but only 2 native subspecies in America. The New England Aster and the New York Aster.
Aster Relatives
Asters and daisies are unsurprisingly related, but so are mums! All stemming from the Asteroideae family of flowering plants (no wonder it’s 10% of all flowering plants!).
Pollinator Magnets
New England Asters are often recommended for butterfly and bumblebee gardens.
Low Maintenance Bloomers
Asters seed like common daisies and are very low maintenance in the garden once they are established.
Additional New England Aster Facts:
- Some varietals of New England Asters can grow up to six (6) feet tall! However, most New England Asters average between 2-4 feet at full maturity.
- Soil type isn’t nearly as important to New England Asters as sunlight. Asters will not tolerate full shade.
- The Wildflower Center notes that New England Asters are excellent for bees or butterflies. Several species of native butterfly use the aster to lay eggs.
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