What they do
Asters extend the flowering season and help keep a pollinator patch active later in the year.
Plant profile
Asters
Genus Symphyotrichum
Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.
Plant Type
Wildflowers (herbaceous perennials) > Asters
Aliases
Aster
Native Range
Many species are native to North America, including regions around southern Canada and the northeastern United States.
Bloom window
Late summer into fall
OVERVIEW
About This Plant
Asters are a go-to choice for a pollinator-friendly garden because they bloom late, when many other flowers are finished. In a mixed planting, they can act like a “season finale,” filling beds and borders with clusters of daisy-like blooms.
If you’re planting asters in a school garden or a small home space, focus on three basics: give them enough light, don’t crowd them, and water them well while they’re getting established. Once settled in, many asters are fairly resilient and can be long-lived perennials.
Because “asters” includes many species in the genus Symphyotrichum, you’ll see differences in height, bloom color, and how much moisture they like. If you’re choosing just one, pick a type that fits your space (compact for containers, taller for the back of a bed) and pair it with other wildflowers so something is blooming earlier in the season too.
Best role for pollinators
Adding late-season color and supporting pollinators when fewer flowers are blooming
FAST FACTS
Quick Details
Essential stats and requirements for quick reference.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Aster |
| Bloom window | Late summer into fall |
| Typical height | Varies by species; from low mounding types to tall, upright plants |
| Pollinators supported | Bees, Butterflies, Flies |
| Light & moisture | Sun to part sun; average moisture (some types handle drier or wetter spots once established) |
| Best roles for pollinators | Adding late-season color and supporting pollinators when fewer flowers are blooming |
SUMMARY
If You Remember Three Things
A quick scan of what they do, what they need, and the best first step.
What they need
A bright spot with decent airflow and room to grow, plus regular watering while they establish.
One best action
Give asters sun and space, and leave the stems standing until after flowering is finished.
IMPACT
Why Plant This?
Asters help extend the season of flowers in a garden, which can make a pollinator-friendly space feel active and colorful later in the year.
The name “aster” comes from a word meaning “star,” a nod to the flower’s starry shape.
Key Impacts
What it Supports
- They bloom when many other garden flowers are fading, helping keep your patch lively later in the season.
- They’re easy to mix with other wildflowers to create a longer bloom timeline.
- They can work in small spaces, including larger pots, if they get enough light and water.
RECOGNITION
Identification Guide
Look for daisy-like flowers with a bright yellow center and many narrow petals, often blooming in clusters.
Leaves
Leaves vary by species; often narrow to oval and arranged along the stems.
Flowers
Daisy-like flowers with yellow centers and many thin petals; colors commonly include purple, blue, pink, and white.
Fruits
After flowering, plants form small dry seeds that may be carried by wind.
LOCATION
Where It Grows
Native environments and the best spots to place it in your landscape.
Habitats
- Meadows and open fields
- Prairie-like plantings
- Sunny woodland edges
- Roadside and open natural areas
Where it is often used
- Pollinator patch or school garden border
- Meadow-style planting with grasses and other wildflowers
- Late-season color in mixed perennial beds
- Large containers (choose compact types and water consistently)
SEASONALITY
When It Blooms
Notes on bloom windows and how this plant helps pollinators across the seasons.
Bloom window
Asters are best known for their late-season bloom, which can carry a garden into fall.
Bloom Season Role: Late-season nectar and pollen
Seasonal benefits
- Adds color when many plants are done flowering
- Pairs well with earlier-blooming wildflowers to keep blooms going longer
- Creates a strong “finish” for pollinator-friendly plantings
REQUIREMENTS
What It Needs
The right mix of sun, soil, and space for healthy growth.
Sun exposure
Best flowering in full sun; part sun can work, especially with good airflow.
Soil type
Adaptable to many garden soils; avoid constantly soggy spots unless you’ve chosen a moisture-tolerant type.
Moisture needs
Water regularly the first season; after that, water during long dry stretches.
Planting method
Plant in spring or early fall. Give enough spacing for airflow and to reduce flopping.
Mulching tips
Use a light layer of mulch to hold moisture and reduce weeds, keeping mulch off the crown.
GARDENING GUIDE
How to Grow It
Simple steps to plant, prune, and maintain healthy trees without pesticides.
Planting tips
- Choose a sunny to partly sunny spot with room for the plant’s mature size.
- Loosen the soil and remove weeds where you’ll plant.
- Plant at the same depth as the pot, then water in well.
- Add a light mulch layer, leaving space around the base of the stems.
- Water consistently for the first few weeks, then as needed.
Seasonal care
- Water during dry spells, especially in the first year.
- If plants get tall and floppy, use a simple stake or let them grow among sturdy neighbors.
- After flowering, you can leave stems standing for winter interest and tidy up later.
- Divide crowded clumps every few years to keep plants vigorous.
What not to do
- Planting asters in too much shade
- Overwatering or planting in a spot that stays soggy
- Crowding plants so air can’t move through
- Cutting back stems before the plant finishes blooming
Pairings
Best Pairings for Season-Long Bloom
Pairing ideas to keep pollinators fed throughout the growing season.
Early Bloom
- Golden alexanders
- Wild columbine
- Spring-blooming native violets
Mid-Season Bloom
- Bee balm
- Black-eyed Susan
- Purple coneflower
Late-Season Bloom
- Goldenrods
- Joe-Pye weed
- Native grasses
“Asters” can mean many different species within Symphyotrichum, and their size and moisture needs can vary—check the plant tag or local native plant guidance when choosing one for your space.
GLOSSARY
Key Terms
A few quick terms you might see on plant tags or garden guides:
Glossary terms are being added.
What You Can Do
Make a difference for native habitats.
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Pollinators supported
Species that benefit from this plant
Bee flies
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
View pollinator profile
Brushfoots
Many brushfoots move pollen between flowers as they feed, and their caterpillars are part of healthy food webs.
View pollinator profile
Bumble bees
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
View pollinator profile
Dance flies
Many visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while also playing important roles in local food webs.
View pollinator profile
Flower flies / hoverflies
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
View pollinator profile
Geometer moths
Adults can help move pollen as they nectar at flowers, and their caterpillars are an important part of local food webs.
View pollinator profile
Hawk / sphinx moths
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
View pollinator profile
Leafcutter bees
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
View pollinator profile
Mason bees
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden crops set seed and fruit.
View pollinator profile
Mining bees
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
View pollinator profile
Paper wasps
They can move pollen while drinking nectar, and they also help control many plant-eating insects.
View pollinator profile
Silkmoths (giant moths)
They’re part of healthy food webs and plant communities, and their caterpillars depend on a wide range of native trees and shrubs.
View pollinator profile
Skippers
Skippers visit many flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms while they feed.
View pollinator profile
Small nectar moths (micro-moths)
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
View pollinator profile
Soldier beetles
Many adults visit flowers and can move pollen between blooms, while also helping control some garden pests.
View pollinator profile
Soldier flies
Many adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while feeding.
View pollinator profile
Swallowtails
Adult swallowtails visit many flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
View pollinator profile
Sweat bees
They help move pollen between flowers in gardens, parks, and natural areas, supporting seed and fruit production.
View pollinator profile
Whites & sulphurs
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
View pollinator profile
Regions
Where this plant is native
Image
Lower Mainland & Puget Lowland
The Lower Mainland & Puget Lowland is a busy, people-centered coastal lowland with rivers, shorelines, and patches of forest and meadow.
Explore region profile
Sierras of Jalisco and Michoacán with Conifer, Oak, and Mixed Forests
This region is a set of temperate mountain landscapes where conifer, oak, and mixed forests create layered habitat—from sunny edges and clearings to shaded understories.
Explore region profile