Synonym(s): Aster concolor, Aster concolor var. simulatus, Aster plumosus, Aster simulatus, Lasallea concolor
Image ID: 15235
Image by: Sorrie, Bruce A.
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library
PLANT INDEX
ID_PLANT: SYCO3
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Symphyotrichum concolor
Include in WOTAS: 1
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2019-05-10
GENUS INDEX
GENUS CODE: SYMPH4 GENUS SCIENTIFIC:Symphyotrichum GENUS AUTHORITY: Nees GENUS COMMON: Aster GENUS SUMMARY: A genus of about 90 species, of the Americas and e. Asia, most diverse in our area. GENUS IDENTIFICATION: GENUS REFERENCES: Brouillet et al. FNA (2006b); Brouillet & Semple (1981); Cronquist (1980)=SE; Jones (1980a, 1980b, 1984); Jones & Young (1983); R. Jones (1983)=Z; R. Jones (1992); Lamboy (1987, 1992)=Y; Nesom (1994)=X; Nesom (2005b)=V; Nesom (1993a, 1993b, 1994, 1997); Campbell & Seymour (2014)=J; Noyes & Rieseberg (1999); Semple & Brouillet (1980a, 1980b); Semple, Chmielewski, & Lane (1989); Semple, Heard, & Xiang (1996); Sundberg (2004)=Q; Reveal & Keener (1981); Warners & Laughlin (1999); Xiang & Semple (1996). Key to subgenus Astropolium based on Nesom (2005b).
FAMILY INDEX
FAMILY CODE: ASTERA FAMILY SCIENTIFIC:Asteraceae FAMILY AUTHORITY: Dumortier 1822 or COMPOSITAE Giseke 1792 FAMILY COMMON: Aster Family FAMILY SUMMARY: A family of about 1500-1700 genera and 20,000-25,000 species, shrubs, herbs, trees, and vines, cosmopolitan in distribution. FAMILY REFERENCE: Cronquist (1980)=SE throughout family treatment.
NCBG DESCRIPTIVES
INTRO:Erect to ascendingperennial of dry longleaf pine sandhills, Piedmont woodlands, forest edges and road banks. STEMS: Stems 1-several, often leaning on other plants, unbranched, silky-hairy. LEAVES: Leaves alternate,crowded,sessile,elliptic, 1/2-1 1/2 in. long (reduced upward), covered with silvery-silky close-pressed hairs. INFLORESCENCE: FLOWERS:Composite flowers (heads) in a narrow panicle or cylindrical raceme to about 8 in. long; heads about 1 in. wide, consisting of 8-18 blue to violet (rarely pink) narrow ray florets encircling a center disk of many yellow tubular florets. Several series of hairy, green-tipped bracts closely surround the bell-shaped to cylindricbase of each head. FRUITS:Fruit a tiny, white-tufted achene. COMMENTS: HEIGHT: 1 1/2-4 ft. DURATION:
Perennial
HABIT:
Herb
LEAF ARRANGEMENT:
Alternate, Basal LEAF COMPLEXITY:
Simple LEAF RETENTION: FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS
SYMMETRY:
Mixed
BLOOM TIME: Sep-Oct
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
x
x
x
x
BLOOM COLOR: Blue to violet or lavender
White
Red
Pink
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Lavender
Purple
Violet
Brown
Not Applicable
x
x
x
FRUITING PERIOD: DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE: Disturbed, Dry forests, Sandhills, Woods margins
NATIVE RANGE: eastern United States HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text: This southeastern native aster provides a delightful profusion of lavender-blue flowers in the fall garden. Each plant produces multiple stems, each with dozens of flowers, so the overall effect is very showy. For a colorful garden well past Labor Day, this is a great perennial to include in your garden. This aster blooms profusely when given at least a half-day of sun. Full sun is ideal. Eastern silvery aster is an excellent native plant for butterflies. 1996 N.C. Wildflower of the Year.
Bloom Table Text:
NCBG Location:
Cultural Notes:
SOIL MOISTURE:
Dry, Average
LIGHT EXPOSURE:
Sun, Part Shade, Shade
MINIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 5
MAXIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 9
GERMINATION CODE: 2
WILDLIFE VALUE:
Bee Friendly, Butterfly Friendly
DEER RESISTANCE:
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Symphyotrichum concolor var. concolor
COMMON NAME: Eastern Silvery Aster
SYNONYMY: [= FNA; < Aster concolor Linnaeus - C, F, G, RAB, S, SE, W; < S. concolor (Linnaeus) G.L. Nesom - K, Va, WH3, X; < Virgulus concolor (Linnaeus) Reveal & Keener; = Symphyotrichum concolor ssp. concolor - Haines (2010); < S. concolor var. concolor - WH3]
PHENOLOGY: Sep-Oct.
HABITAT: Sandhills, Piedmont woodlands, forest edges, roadbanks.
COMMENTS: MA and NY south to s. FL, west to LA, inland less commonly to TN and KY.
RANGE MAP: Symphyotrichum concolor var. concolor.png
Key to Map SymbolsABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora) Asteraceae Dumortier 1822 or COMPOSITAE Giseke 1792 (Aster Family) SUMMARY: A family of about 1500-1700 genera and 20,000-25,000 species, shrubs, herbs, trees, and vines, cosmopolitan in distribution. REFERENCE: Cronquist (1980)=SE throughout family treatment.ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora) Symphyotrichum Nees (Aster) SUMMARY: A genus of about 90 species, of the Americas and e. Asia, most diverse in our area. REFERENCE: Brouillet et al. FNA (2006b); Brouillet & Semple (1981); Cronquist (1980)=SE; Jones (1980a, 1980b, 1984); Jones & Young (1983); R. Jones (1983)=Z; R. Jones (1992); Lamboy (1987, 1992)=Y; Nesom (1994)=X; Nesom (2005b)=V; Nesom (1993a, 1993b, 1994, 1997); Campbell & Seymour (2014)=J; Noyes & Rieseberg (1999); Semple & Brouillet (1980a, 1980b); Semple, Chmielewski, & Lane (1989); Semple, Heard, & Xiang (1996); Sundberg (2004)=Q; Reveal & Keener (1981); Warners & Laughlin (1999); Xiang & Semple (1996). Key to subgenus Astropolium based on Nesom (2005b).
HERBARIUM RESOURCES
SERNEC: Find Symphyotrichum concolor in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available) UNC SERNEC: Find Symphyotrichum concolor in
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)