Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (L.) G.L. Nesom
New England aster
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Asteridae A large class that encompasses asters
Order Asterales Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family Asteraceae The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus Symphyotrichum From Greek symphysis, “borne together or growing together, coalescing,” and trichinos, “hair, a single hair”
Species novae-angliae “New England”
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
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 · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
9/24/2010 · Nissitissit River Wildlife Management Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 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 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
10/17/2016 · Mt. Greylock, Lanesborough, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)
9/24/2011 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 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 · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Aster novae-angliae L.
Lasallea novae-angliae (L.) Semple & L. Brouillet
Virgulus novae-angliae (L.) Reveal & Keener
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 × 15″ (26 × 39 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 × 6″ (10 × 15 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 · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 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 · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.3 × 6.2 cm)
Range: Zones 4-8:
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