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Purplestem Aster - PollinateHV Local Ecotype
Purplestem Aster - PollinateHV Local Ecotype
Purplestem Aster - PollinateHV Local Ecotype

Purplestem Aster - PollinateHV Local Ecotype

Certified Organic

Symphyotrichum punicem

Purples and golds dazzle at summer's end.

The pretty purple and gold flowers of Purplestem Aster give a wispy appearance to late-season borders and gardens—a fittingly soft effect that helps the garden transition out of summer. Its blooms are also a positive force in your landscape, serving as a great source of nectar for bumblebees and supplying pollen and nectar to miner bees, cuckoo bees, leafcutter bees, cellophane bees, and sweat bees. It’s known to support at least 18 native Hudson Valley pollinators whose populations are threatened or declining.

An easy-to-grow plant, Purplestem Aster is quite adaptable but grows best in soils that stay on the moist side, growing well in both full sun and semi-shade.

This local ecotype seed is of Hudson Valley wild origin and has been scaled for production on our farm in Accord, NY.

This product was grown and processed on our own certified organic farm, Four Fold Farm, in the Hudson Valley of New York State.

$5.79

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250 Seeds $5.79 In Stock

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Cold stratification required: direct sow in fall or early winter into a clean, prepared bed. Or, for spring sowing, sow shallowly about 10 weeks before last frost, in rich, damp soil. Cover and refrigerate for 3 weeks. Afterwards, move to a 70-degree, well-lit spot for germination, which can take up to 28 days. Harden off and transplant outdoors into rich, moist soil after last frost.

Days to Germination 60+
Days to Maturity 180 days
Planting Depth ¼ inches
Spacing in Row 12 inches
Spacing Between Rows 24 inches
Height at Maturity 36 - 60 inches
Sun Preference Full Sun to Light Shade
Hardiness Zone Range Zones 4-9

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Bombus citrinus.png__PID:8312cc61-0685-44db-8167-2f884bcaf47d

The Lemon Cuckoo Bumblebee
Bombus citrinus

The lemon cuckoo bumblebee is a “social parasite” - it survives by taking over the colonies of other bumblebee species, eliminating the colonies’ queen bees, and forcing the worker bees to care for its own offspring. It relies on these host bee species to reproduce, and most of its host bees have stable populations in the Northeast. However, the lemon cuckoo bumblebee is still declining, with a conservation rank of S2 (imperiled) in New York. This decline might be due to declines in its food plants, which include native asters and goldenrods often found in fallow fields.

Halictus rubicundus.jpg__PID:2fc58312-cc61-4685-94db-81672f884bca

The Orange-legged Furrow Bee
Halictus rubicundus

Scientists are still learning about the habits and needs of solitary bees like the Orange-legged Furrow Bee, which is known to feed on purple-stemmed American aster. This small, ground-nesting bee is likely only able to travel short distances in search of food, meaning that increasing the presence of native plants like asters across our landscapes may be key to its survival. Overwintering queen bees emerge later in spring than many other hibernating bee species.

PollinateHV is a collaboration between the Hudson Valley Seed Company and Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley in support of threatened native pollinators.

 We worked with a team of expert botanists, seed collectors, nursery growers and farmers to produce local ecotype native seeds to support at-risk Hudson Valley pollinators. You can find more information about this project at pollinatehv.org/seed-work. Learn more about the Hudson Valley's threatened pollinators and find resources to install pollinator habitat at all scales at pollinatehv.org.