# large-leaved aster (*Eurybia macrophylla*) The large-leaved aster is a beautiful plant with big, green leaves and pretty purple flowers. It blooms in late summer and is a favorite for butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Forests ![large-leaved aster](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eurybia_macrophylla_%288884986269%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: rockerBOO, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eurybia_macrophylla_%288884986269%29.jpg) ## Appearance The large-leaved aster has distinctively broad, heart-shaped basal leaves that can be wider than a dinner plate, forming a ground cover. Taller stems bear smaller, oval leaves and clusters of numerous daisy-like flowers. Its blooms are typically white to pale lavender with bright yellow centers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Eurybia ## Interesting facts - It creates a beautiful, leafy carpet in shady forest spots. - Its huge basal leaves can be wider than a dinner plate! - Its late-season flowers offer a vital feast for migrating butterflies. - This plant spreads using underground stems like secret tunnels. ## Special abilities - **Ground Carpet Spreader:** Large-leaved aster can spread widely using underground stems (rhizomes) to form dense, lush colonies across the forest floor. - **Shade Seeker:** Large-leaved aster has large basal leaves that efficiently capture scarce sunlight, helping it thrive in dappled shade. - **Late Season Feast:** Large-leaved aster provides abundant nectar and pollen in late summer and fall, a crucial food source for migrating insects. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-120 cm - **Spread:** 60-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its late blooms. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects vital late-season food from the flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar, fueling its incredible migration. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on its leaves and tender stems. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify large-leaved aster? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is large-leaved aster? 30-120 cm ### How wide does large-leaved aster spread? 60-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on large-leaved aster? 1-2 cm ### When does large-leaved aster bloom? Late summer to fall ### Is large-leaved aster edible? Yes ### Is large-leaved aster toxic? None ### What is large-leaved aster's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Lupa Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lupa-zoo) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo - [Lake Superior Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-superior-zoo) — Minnesota, US · Zoo ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Large-leaved Aster: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/large-leaved-aster)