# New England aster (*Symphyotrichum novae-angliae*) The New England aster is a beautiful purple flower that blooms in late summer and fall. It attracts butterflies and bees, making gardens lively and colorful! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Meadows - **Also known as:** Purple Aster ![New England aster](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Symphyotrichum_novae-angliae_flower_%2824%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Andrew Sebastian, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Symphyotrichum_novae-angliae_flower_%2824%29.jpg) ## Appearance The New England aster has vibrant purple-pink ray petals surrounding a sunny yellow-orange central disk, creating a daisy-like appearance. Its sturdy, hairy stems are covered in lance-shaped green leaves, often appearing bushy and upright. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Symphyotrichum ## Interesting facts - Its fluffy seed heads look like tiny white dandelion puffs after blooming! - Native Americans used its leaves to make a soothing tea. - Some butterflies travel thousands of miles to find these late-season flowers! - This aster's roots help clean the soil and can even stop erosion. ## Special abilities - **Vibrant Beacon:** New England aster can attract many pollinators with its bright purple flowers, ensuring successful reproduction. - **Fall Feeder:** New England aster has late-season blooms that provide vital nectar for insects preparing for winter or migration. - **Tough Traveler:** New England aster has strong, fibrous roots that help it withstand various soil conditions and droughts. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 90-180 cm - **Spread:** 30-90 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — fuels migration with nectar - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — active during its late bloom - **Eats:** [Differential grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/differential-grasshopper) (*Melanoplus differentialis*) — feeds on leaves and 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. - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers in the wild, as some may be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify New England 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 New England aster? 90-180 cm ### How wide does New England aster spread? 30-90 cm ### How big are the flowers on New England aster? 2-5 cm ### When does New England aster bloom? Late summer to fall ### Is New England aster edible? Yes ### Is New England aster toxic? None ### What is New England aster's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Haskell-Baker Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haskell-baker-wetlands) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve - [Miami Whitewater Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/miami-whitewater-forest) — Ohio, US · Park - [Shaw Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shaw-nature-reserve) — Missouri, US · Botanical Garden - [Wildwood Preserve Metropark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wildwood-preserve-metropark) — Ohio, US · Nature Reserve - [Canaan Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canaan-street-historic-district) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [Duke Farms](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/duke-farms) — New Jersey, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see New England aster](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/new-england-aster) ## 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: [New England aster: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/new-england-aster)