Smooth Aster - PollinateHV Local Ecotype

True to its name, the Smooth Blue Aster offers a unique tactile experience in the garden, featuring foliage that is notably smooth to the touch rather than rough like many of its cousins. As the season begins to wind down, this plant stands tall on tough, often blue-tinted stems, erupting into clouds of daisy-like blooms. The flowers are a cool, calming sight from late summer to mid-fall, displaying soft blue petals around bright centers that shift from yellow to deep garnet. Because it spreads slowly through non-aggressive rhizomes, it forms loose, willowy clumps that return for years, making it a well-behaved addition to the perennial bed, provided it isn't crowded by more aggressive spreaders.

Beyond its beauty, this aster is a bustling ecological hub. It serves as a critical host plant for the larvae of the Silvery Checkerspot and Pearl Crescent butterflies, while its late-season nectar draws in native bees by the score. The cycle of life continues even after the blooms fade, as birds visit the garden to relish the seeds. Planting this hardy native ensures your garden remains a vibrant, nourishing sanctuary for wildlife well into the autumn months.