Seeing our native plants provide ecoservices – contributing food and habitat for surrounding plants – gives us a new appreciation for the relationships they foster. This fall, we’re excited to spotlight one of our favorite autumn flowers: the native aster.
We see these colorful beauties growing along the road and in wild places such as prairies, open fields, and wooded areas. This could lead us to believe that they aren’t that special, but they actually offer incredible value, providing both visual delight and vital resources for our local ecosystems. They bloom from August into October. Not only do their stunning blooms attract bees and butterflies, but they also host several butterfly larvae, like the Silvery Checkerspots, Pearl Crescents, and Painted Ladies (P.S. Learn more about host plants in our blog post).
Michigan is home to a variety of native asters that offer late-season color and essential nectar and pollen for many insects. Here are a few of our favorites:
Symphyotrichum ericoides (Heath Aster): Pictured on the right. Native to both dry and wet prairies, this aster boasts narrow, dainty leaves and a bright yellow center. Growing up to three feet tall, it’s low-maintenance and drought-resistant, making it ideal for dry prairie areas. It also serves as a host for Pearl Crescent butterflies and provides nectar for fall pollinators.
Symphyotrichum pilosum (Frost Aster): Named for its hardiness, this aster’s delicate white blooms often last through November. Growing between two and four feet tall, it forms a shrubby appearance. Michigan has two varieties: Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pilosum, with small hairs on the leaves, found in the Lower Peninsula, and Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pringlei, mostly hairless and common near the Great Lakes.
Symphyotrichum laeve (Smooth Blue Aster): Known for its slow-spreading rhizomes, this aster is perfect for smaller spaces and behaves well in a traditional garden setting. Its stunning blue flowers are attractive to pollinators and provide a habitat for Silver Checkerspot and Pearl Crescent butterflies.
Symphyotrichum oolentangiense (Sky Blue Aster): Pictured on the right. Similar to the Smooth Blue Aster, this variety thrives in full to partial sun and various well-draining soils. With its textured leaves, it stands out in a garden. It’s a host plant for Pearl Crescent and Silvery Checkerspot butterflies and offers nectar to Red Admiral and Bronze Copper butterflies.
Triggered by the shortening days, aster blooms bring a gentle close to the growing season — a fitting celebration of another year.
Have you begun introducing these native asters to your garden? They’ll hold down the fort when it comes to fall color, and they’ll support life around them. Our local fall pollinators also need them for their migration and overwintering.
Join us on this journey of discovery. Help take care of your neighbors with tiny legs, and your neighbors with human-sized legs will enjoy the view. Win-win!
Until next thyme,
Jen from My Thyme Gardens