​Symphyotrichum laeve, Smooth Aster

A relatively new addition to the Ottawa garden and the Perth meadow, these Asters matured and bloomed in their second year and were an immediate hit with pollinators.

In the garden setting, they grew to a bit over 3’ tall, roughly the same height as their New England Aster neighbours. In the space, nutrient and moisture competition of the grassy Perth meadow they have only reached 2’ in height so far, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this increases a in coming years as their root systems mature.

Their light purple blooms unfurl in early September and remain vibrant and filled with nectar and pollen for around a month. The bumblebees were particularly active and easy to spot on their light purple blooms through September and into early October.

Upright and bushy, filling out to a couple of feet wide, these would fit well into garden and meadow settings and don’t seem to mind dry soils or a bit of light shade.

A lovely, pollen rich addition to the late summer and fall garden, they make a lovely composition alongside New England Asters and the later blooming Goldenrods like Stiff-leaf and Wrinkle-leaf, as well as late blooming types of Wild Bergamot.

Additional companion species for a season-long pollinator garden could include Anise Hyssop, Giant Purple Hyssop, Nodding Onion, Pink Swamp Milkweed, Fireweed, Lance-leaved Coreopsis, Flat-topped White Aster, Common Sneezeweed, Button Blazing Star, Hairy Beardtongue, Virginia Mountain Mint, Blue Vervain and Culver’s Root, along with Little Bluestem, Tufted Hairgrass and Side-Oats Grama for the grass layer.