Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Resources
  • Organizations & Blogs
  • Archives
  • Contact

Asters — One of my Favorites

September 7, 2016

New England Asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae fna Aster novae-angliae), Frost Asters & Goldenrod providing a late summer feast for monarchs as they head south toward their winter quarters in Mexico.
New England Asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), Frost Asters (Symphyotrichum pilosus) and Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) providing a late summer feast for monarchs as they head south toward their winter quarters in Mexico.

I love this time of year because the end of summer brings the beautiful array of native asters for our enjoyment. The New England Asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae fna Aster novae-angliae) with its variety of colors from purple to pink, and the Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense fna Aster azureus) are just beginning to blossom. The Heath (Symphyotrichum ericoides fna Aster ericoides) and Frost Aster (Symphyotorichum pilosum fna Aster pilosus)will soon follow. And then finally the Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum fna Aster lateriflorus) which makes me laugh because it’s so cute.

Red Admiral butterfly on New England Aster.
Red Admiral butterfly on New England Aster.

Typically, the asters will last from August through October making them a really appropriate nectar plant for the monarchs and other insects as they migrate to their winter quarters or settle in for a long winter’s nap.

   Send article as PDF   

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Signup button.

Recent Posts

  • OVER-THE-COUNTER NATIVE PLANT SALE MAY 21
  • WOFVA’s NATIVE PLANT SALE MAY 21
  • Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA)
  • Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame 2022 Inductees
  • Native Landscaping Design

Category Archives

  • Biodiversity
    • Monarchs
    • Pollinators
  • Birds
  • Climate Change
  • Events
  • Fire
  • Funding
  • Garden and Landscape Design
  • Heroes
  • Homestead
    • Recipe
  • Invasive Plants
  • Native plant garden design
  • Native Plants
  • Natural Landscaping
  • Prairie
  • Public Comment Opportunity
  • Railroad
  • The Sky
  • Wellbeing
  • Wetlands
  • Wildflowers
    • Trees & Shrubs
  • Wildlife
    • Wolves
  • Wisconsin
  • Women
  • Woodlands

Copyright 2005-2018
Donna VanBuecken