Download Summer - Native Asters

Summer
Native Plant of the Month
Douglas Aster A. subspicatus
Simple leaves are
often toothed (above).
Layers of bracts at the
flower base (right).
Landscape Value
These perennial wildflowers are
colorful additions to large flower
borders, naturalized meadows, and
sunny edge zones.
Asters like full sun, and prefer
moist soil, but can tolerate a wide
range of soils. They will self seed
freely once established.
Our native asters generally
bloom in shades of blue, purple,
lavender, pink, and occasionally
white, with mostly yellow centers.
Plant with other flowering
perennials such as pearly
everlasting, Erigeron, tufted
hairgrass, red fescue, lupine,
Potentilla, Clarkia and goldenrod
for a long season of bloom.
Text by Heidi Bohan
©Starflower Foundation
California Aster A. chilensis
Native Asters
Aster chilensis, subspicatus,
modestus, eatonii and foliaceus
• Aster is the Greek name for “star,” describing
the appearance of the flower.
• These species have been planted in many
Seattle habitat restoration projects. There are
dozens of additional native species.
• These late-blooming flowers attract bees,
butterflies, and moths after most other flowers
are gone.
• Asters are best distinguished from similar
plants by the seasons in which they flower (late
summer through fall for asters).
• Layers of bracts located at the base of the
flowers help to identify asters.