Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

eastern silver aster

Synonym(s):

eastern silvery aster

Genus species:

Symphyotrichum concolor

Family:

Asteraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

1.5-3 ft tall by 1 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

lavender, pink

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Winter dormant. Blooms in fall.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Makes a colorful contribution to a native plant meadow. Becomes darker (more purple) after pollination. When flowering, the stem needs support from surrounding plants. It is primarily a fall bloomer.

Considerations:

Availability:

FNPS Plant Sales, Seed

Propagation:

Seed

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

adaptable

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Mammals

Nectar plant for many butterfly species but also visited by other native insect pollinators.

Used as browse by deer to the extent that in some states, browsing is an issue.

Native Habitats:

Dry, sandy

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Benefits from controlled burns. There are contradictions in herbarium databases, and reliable observations in counties where there are no herbarium specimens. Probably native in low abundance in dry (xeric) native grasslands and open pinelands throughout the state.