Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, Panicled Aster, Short, Dense Form

Between the variability within some species, and the minute differences between some other species, Aster identification is one of those things that drives many to distraction.

While I’ve been improving my skills, I found this particular species to be a bit of a challenge. Their form, height and bloom time from one setting to another is variable enough that it took a while before I was convinced that they are all Panicle Aster, although I’m still not sure if they are different varieties, (there are five recognized as native to Ontario) or one of the two recognized subspecies. The identification information available online is either too limited or the physical distinctions too minimal for my amateur botany skills.

But I can tell you about the traits that I am familiar with.

They thrive in part shade and in full, hot sun. They will grow in seasonally flooded areas, alongside wetland species like Joe-Pye-Weed and in dry settings, like along old parking lots and gravely ditches. The patches in the shade grow to 3-4’ in height, have an open airy form and spread quite quickly by rhizomes -every spring I dig a bunch that run about 4’ into the vegetable garden each year, pulling the long rhizomes with their centipede leg like side roots before planting the seeds for the annual crops.

The ones that I’ve seen in hot, dry, sunny areas grow to 2’ to 3’ in height and tend to form much denser patches. Their form is also much denser, creating an entirely different visual texture than those in moisture rich settings. These patches don’t seem to have the same rate of spread, seeming to form shorter rhizomes and completely filling the space, rather than wandering everywhere but leaving plenty of room for neighbours of other species.

Given their adaptability, I’d be inclined to include these in both wet and dry meadow planting, in sandy or clay-based soils. I’ve also seen them thriving is slightly acidic soils and in fairly shallow soils over limestone.

I do suspect that they are a bit too outgoing for most conventional garden settings, but if you don’t mind lots (and I do mean LOTS) of exuberance, I wouldn’t tell you not to plant them if you feel you have an appropriate space for them.

Some species that would hold their own well alongside these Asters in a sunny meadow planting include Switchgrass, Common Milkweed, Silver Wormwood, Flat-topped White Aster, Grass-leaved Goldenrod, Wild Bergamot, Prairie Sundrops, Cut-leaved Coneflower, Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod, Canada Goldenrod and New England Asters.