Image 1 of 3
Image 2 of 3
Image 3 of 3
One of the most commonly seen large asters in the Appalachian Mountains and Piedmont, Symphyotrichum puniceum is a hardy, long-lasting wildflower that can perform well in the right landscape. Taller than most other aster species, Purplestem Aster typically grows up to 6’ in height with a branching habit, with numerous leaves and flowers covering its iconic stems which can turn a dark purple in part to full sun. Typically found in wet meadows and ditches, Purplestem Aster tolerates flooding and wet areas, but its thick fibrous roots are deep, allowing it to endure periods of drought and thrive well in average soils on slopes or streambanks. These roots can help prevent erosion from runoff, so it can be a good candidate for large rain gardens or landscapes designed for runoff management. Purplestem Aster can reseed very easily, however, so it is not recommended for small gardens or areas where spreading is not desired. As with most asters, it can be browsed by deer and rabbits until it grows above browsing height. Purplestem Aster blooms late, typically September at the earliest, and will continue for 6+ weeks, sometimes even after first frost. It can be trimmed to keep plants from growing too tall, but the height of this plant can be what makes it a distinct wildflower in areas where other flowers get crowded out.
Asters have been known as keystone plants of many habitats in our region, and while this group of wildflowers has changed and diverged over time, flowers of the Symphyotrichum genus are some of the best for wildlife, especially in the fall season. Symphyotrichum species often bloom later in the season, peaking in September and October at a time when pollinators may have trouble finding other sources of food. This makes the abundant, easy to access flowers ideal for many kinds of insects. In addition, a wide range of different species of butterflies and moths use asters as host plants for their caterpillars. This selective dependence can be great when Symphyotrichum and related genera are in abundance, but challenging when they are replaced by non-native weeds, lawns, and other human impacts. Offering asters as a garden plant can also offer food sources to other wildlife, including a wide variety of birds. Overall, choosing at least one aster species can make a small but important impact.
Pollinators: bumblebees, cellophane bees, fairy bees, leafcutter bees, long-horned bees, mason bees miner bees, pebble bees, small carpenter bees, sweat bees, yellow-faced bees, butterflies, moths, bee flies, flower flies, soldier beetles, beetle wasps, carrot wasps, chalcid wasps, grass-carrying wasps, mason wasps, potter wasps, sand wasps, scoliid wasps, spider wasps, square-headed wasps, thread-waisted wasps, thynnid flower wasps
Host Plant for Butterflies/Moths: 39+ Lepidoptera species, many of which feed only on a few genera other than Symphyotrichum, including the Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) and Aster Flowerhead Caterpillar (Eucosma parmatana)
Dependent Species: 31 oligolectic bee species in our region of which Melissodes pilleatus is only found in NC, 2 bee species only feed on Symphyotrichum - Andrena asteroides (AL, GA, MD, NC, PA, SC, TN, VA) and Anthophorula asteris (GA); Lepidoptera which only feed on Symphyotrichum - Incognito Crescent Butterfly (Phyciodes incognitus), Tawny Crescent Butterfly (Phyciodes batesii), Aster-head Phaneta (Eucosma tomonana), Hoffman’s Cochylid (Cochylichroa hoffmanana), Landryia impositella, Coleophora eriocoides, Bucculatrix cuneigera
Wildlife Value: Bobwhites, Songbirds, Thrushes, Turkeys, Wood Warblers, numerous insect herbivores including the walking stick Manomera blatchleyi, shelter
Deer Resistance: Browsed by deer
Native Region: Appalachian Mountains, Piedmont
Seed Origin: Ashe County, NC
Ecoregion: 66 - Blue Ridge
Light Recommendation: Full Sun, Part-sun
Soil Moisture Recommendation: Medium-wet, Moist, Medium
USDA Zones: 4-8
States found in our region: AL, DE, GA, KY, MD, NC, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV
Other states found: CT, FL, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, RI, SD, TX, VT, WI
