![]() So now an aster could be Symphyotrichum, Eurybia, Baccharis, Ericameria, Solidago and more. But with advances in DNA research, we’ve seen that just because plants look alike doesn’t mean they are closely related. There used to be about 180 North American plants in the genus whose flowers looked starlike. Aster is an old-world genus name coming from the Greek “astron,” which means star. Most are now officially called Symphyotrichumpronounced sim-fie-oh-TRICK-um or sim-fee-oh-TRY-kum. Now before we go any further, it’s important to note that asters aren’t Aster anymore. As a group, asters provide a succession of blooms that lasts from the first big-leaved asters flowering in late summer to the aromatic asters still blooming in mid- to late autumn. Pollinator support goes hand in hand with beauty for us. Pearl crescent and silvery checkerspots also use asters as a host plant. The specialist arcigera flower moth caterpillar feeds on aster blooms and seeds, then overwinters as a pupae in the soil, emerging as an adult in late summer to mate and begin the cycle again. Various flies, such as bee and syrphid, will visit, alongside soldier and other beetles. Male bees are often seen refueling on asters before they continue their search for a female. ![]() Native aster species provide shallow blooms that make for easy pollinator landing pads, and with the large number of available florets filled with food, an insect can hang out longer while feeding and conserve energy. Another way is creating awareness in our communities by displaying stunning plants loaded with pollinators. Providing as many resources as possible for adult and larval-stage insects and bugs is one way to help. Scientific studies show precipitous insect decline, which behooves gardeners to not only be aware of the issues facing pollinators but how we can be part of the answer. From a distance, it may seem like asters are the center of a snow globe as the glittering, delicate bodies of flies, bees and beneficial wasps rise and then settle again over the flowers. Specific epithet means with heart-shaped leaves.If you’ve wandered by a native aster on a crisp autumn afternoon while the sun warms your back, then you’ve seen what this plant does for local wildlife, especially pollinating insects and bugs. Genus name comes from the Greek symph meaning coming together and trich meaning hair in possible reference to the flower anthers. cordifolium are Symphyotrichum sagittifolium (arrow-leaved aster), Symphyotrichum urophyllum (white arrow-leaved aster) and Symphyotrichum drummondii (Drummond’s aster). This heart-leaved aster was formerly known as Aster cordifolius. The upper leaves are smaller and more ovate. Leaves are sharply-toothed, with the lower ones being heart-shaped (to 5” long), hence the specific epithet and common name references to heart-shaped leaves. Flowers feature pale blue to rich blue rays and yellow centers. Stems are topped by dense, small-leaved panicles of daisy-like asters (each flower to 3/4” diameter) which bloom late summer to fall (late August to October). It is a stout, leafy plant that typically grows on smooth, branched, upright-arching stems to 2-5’ tall. ![]() Symphyotrichum cordifolium, commonly known as heart-leaved aster or blue wood aster, is a somewhat weedy, herbaceous perennial that is native to rich, dry to moist woodlands, forest margins, fields, dry meadows, bluff bases and stream banks in eastern to central North America from Quebec to Manitoba south to Kansas, Arkansas and Florida.
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