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perennial

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Climate-suitable non-native

Growing guidance

Horticultural figures below are practitioner estimates for planning, pending expert review. The botanical record further down is sourced and verifiable.

Current-climate suitability

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Future-climate resilience

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Sun

Full sun

Soil moisture

average, moisture-retentive

Heat tolerance

Up to about 40°C

Cold tolerance

Down to about -35°C

Waterlogging tolerance

3/5

Drought tolerance

3/5

Mature size

1–1.5 m tall, 0.8 m spread

Seasonal interest

Autumn · Violet purple

Maintenance

low

Wildlife supported

General wildlife value 5/5 (verified species relationships are shown only where structured data exists)

Known risks or warnings

Lower leaves brown in dry summers.

Toxicity: none

Verified botanical record

Accepted scientific name
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (L.) G.L.Nesom
Family
Asteraceae (Asterales)
Rank and status
species · accepted
GBIF record
Taxon 3151618

Recorded native range: Alabama, Arkansas, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and 38 further regions

Recorded as introduced in: Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Channel Is., Czech Republic, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Flemish Region, France and 32 further regions

Ranges are exactly as recorded in the GBIF source checklists and may be incomplete for widely cultivated species.

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (formerly Aster novae-angliae) is a species of flowering plant in the aster family (Asteraceae) native to central and eastern North America. Commonly known as New England aster, hairy Michaelmas-daisy, or Michaelmas daisy, it is a perennial, herbaceous plant usually between 30 and 120 centimeters (1 and 4 feet) tall and 60 to 90 cm (2 to 3 ft) wide. The usually deep purple flowers have up to 100 ray florets which are rarely pink or white. These surround the flower centers which are composed of just as many tiny yellow disk florets. The plant grows naturally in clumps, with several erect stems emerging from a single point. The stems are stout, hairy, and mostly unbranched. The untoothed, lance-shaped leaves clasp the stem with earlobe-like appendages, and the lower stem leaves often wither by the time of flowering.

Description from Wikipedia — Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (CC BY-SA), shortened and unedited in substance.

Native status and geographic context

  • United Kingdom: climate-suitable
  • United States: native
  • Australia: climate-suitable

Native status is never inferred from climate similarity. Plants restricted or invasive in a jurisdiction are excluded from recommendations there.

Demonstration data. Climate, plant and retailer records shown here are realistic samples awaiting horticultural validation and live data connections.