smooth aster

Symphyotrichum laeve var. laeve

characteristics

Perennial with distinctive smooth, waxy, blue-green leaves. One of the easier asters to identify. Leaves sometimes have a whitish bloom. Numerous, violet-blue flowers with yellow central disks which later turn purple, bloom in clusters. One of the more attractive blue asters.

1,014,000 seeds/pound; starts from seed, bare root, cuttings.

habitat

Prairie, roadsides.

uses

Attracts butterflies: larval host plant for the pearl crescent.

Sweat and bumblebees like this plant.

One of the plants used by North American aboriginals in sweat baths.