Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (L.) G.L. Nesom

New England aster

About plant names...

New England aster is native to most of North America. They are usually among the more brightly colored asters.

Identification: Plants are up to 4' (1.2 m) high. Stems are erect, strong, and sparsely hairy. Leaves are alternate, hairy, spatula-shaped, lanceolate or oblong, with their bases slightly wrapped around the stem ("clasping"). They are usually smooth, but may have shallow teeth, and are ¾-3" (2-8 cm) × ⅛-⅞" (5-25 mm). Attractive flowers occur in dense, highly branched clusters atop the plants. Each flower is ¾-1½" (1.9-3.8 cm) around, and consists of a yellow-orange disk flower in the center, surrounded by 45-100 thin ray flowers that are deep, vibrant purple, pale purple, or pink. They flower from August to September.

See our aster comparison table here. Or check Arieh Tel's well-researched and informative aster comparison site.

Medical: Plants may cause a contact dermatitis.

Online References:

Illinois Wildflowers

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Southeastern Flora, the Southeastern U.S. Plant Identification Resource

The USDA Plants Database

The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

EFloras

References:

Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 20

9/28/2013 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 6 × 8" (14 × 20 cm)

9/16/2016 · Sieur de Monts Botanical Gardens, Bar Harbor, Maine

5/21/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 3½" (9.9 × 9.6 cm)

9/24/2010 · Nissitissit River Wildlife Management Area, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 3" (9.8 × 7.9 cm)

9/16/2016 · Sieur de Monts Botanical Gardens, Bar Harbor, Maine

9/28/2013 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 7 × 4" (16 × 10 cm)

10/17/2016 · Mt. Greylock, Lanesborough, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 20 cm)

9/24/2011 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (14 × 11 cm)

10/17/2016 · Mt. Greylock, Lanesborough, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 7" (12 × 18 cm)

9/17/2016 · By Susan M. Kent
≈ 5½ × 3½' (1.7 × 1.2 m)

9/20/2008 · MOFTA Fair, Unity, Maine

10/2/2010 · Brewster, New York
≈ 9 × 7" (22 × 18 cm)

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 5 Oct 2021.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

9/24/2009 · Scarborough Marsh, Scarborough, Maine

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm) ID is uncertain

9/24/2011 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 10 × 12" (26 × 29 cm)

5/21/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

9/24/2010 · Nissitissit River Wildlife Management Area, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm)

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 4 × 5" (10 × 12 cm)

9/18/2009

9/15/2016 · Cadillac Mountain Summit, Acadia, Bar Harbor, Maine

10/17/2016 · Mt. Greylock, Lanesborough, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 7" (12 × 18 cm)

9/20/2009 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 10 × 8" (26 × 20 cm)

9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 5 × 3" (12 × 8.3 cm)

10/17/2016 · Mt. Greylock, Lanesborough, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (14 × 10 cm)

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 3½" (11 × 9.2 cm)

9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 2½ × 2" (6.5 × 5.6 cm)

Range: Zones 4-8:

About this map...