Symphyotrichum patens

late purple aster

Latin name: Symphyotrichum patens
Common name: Late Purple Aster
Flowers: Thin rayed purple17
Fruit: Not noticeable17
Height & Width: 3’ x 3’17
Type: Perennial17
Habit: Forb/herb17
Wetland indicator category**: N/A
Texture: Coarse17
Growth rate: Moderate17
Light: Full sun17
Moisture: Medium17
Soil: Coarse to medium soils17
Zones: 7 to 817
Origin: Southwest to eastern United States17
Features: This flower is a much more common aster than the Georgia aster also found in these gardens. It is common throughout South Carolina and often found growing along roadsides and ditches. It blooms September through October.11

Siting: Asters prefer full sun. The soil should be well drained, but maintain a moist root zone. Coarse to medium soils are ideal for this.11

Care: Plant in suitable site with adequate soil organic matter so that the crown of the plant is at the soil surface18. Ensure the soil is adequately moist immediately after planting. Keep soil moist but not soggy until plant is established. Once plant is established water deeply but infrequently whenever the soil surface is dry or almost dry 2” below the soil surface.18

Pests: Plants are relatively pest resistant if cultural preferences are met.9

Author: Alexander Smolka

Sources:

  1. Armitage, A. (2001). Armitage’s manual of annuals, biennials, and half-hardy perennials. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
  2. Armitage, A. (2006). Armitage’s native plants for North American gardens. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press.
  3. Armitage, A. (2008). Herbaceous perennial plants: A treatise on their identification, culture, and garden attributes.Athens, GA: University of Georgia.
  4. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Flowers fact sheets. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/flowers/
  5. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Groundcovers & vines fact sheets.Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/groundcovers/
  6. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Trees. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/trees/
  7. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.(2011). Shrubs. Retrieved from https://hgic.clemson.edu/category/shrubs/
  8. Dirr, M. A. (2009). Manual of woody landscape plants. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing.
  9. Gilman, E. F. (1997). Trees for urban and suburban landscapes. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers.
  10. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center University of Texas at Austin. (2012). Native plant information network. Retrieved from http://www.wildflower.org/explore/
  11. McMillan, P., Plant taxonomist Clemson University, personal communication.
  12. Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Plant finder. Retrieved from http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Alpha.asp
  13. North Carolina State University (2005). Plant fact sheets. Retrieved from http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/index.html
  14. Strother, E. V., Ham, D. L., Gilland, L. (2003) Urban tree species guide: Choosing the right tree for the right place.  Columbia, SC: South Carolina Forestry Commission.
  15. University of Florida, IFAS Extension. (2011). Southern trees fact sheet. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/department_envhort-trees
  16. USDA . Plant profile. (n/d).Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/java/
  17. USDA. Plant wetland indicator status. (n/d). Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/wetland.html
  18. Vincent, E., Environmental horticulturist Clemson University, personal communication.
  19. Clemson Extension. Carolina Yards Plant Database. Retrieved from https://www.clemson.edu/extension/carolinayards/plant-database/index.html
  20. Habitat Avengers Featured Native Plant: Ilex verticillata https://bugwoodcloud.org/CDN/sceppc/publications/WinterberryArticleSCNLA.pdf

*Soil pH is determined using a professional soil test. Contact your Clemson University County Extension service for assistance www.clemson.edu/extension/. Click on “local offices”.

**2012 Plant Wetland Indicator categories (quantitative derived) http://plants.usda.gov/wetinfo.html

Indicator CodeIndicator StatusComment
OBLObligate WetlandAlmost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands
FACWFacultative WetlandUsually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands
FACFacultativeCommonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte
FACUFacultative UplandOccasionally is a hydrophyte but usually occurs in uplands
UPLObligate UplandRarely is a hydrophyte, almost always in uplands