Symphyotrichum puniceum var. puniceum (Native)

Synonym(s)
Aster puniceus
Common Name
Purple-stem aster
Swamp aster
Plant Form
Herbs
Duration
Perennial
Max Height (ft)
7.0
Region
Coastal
Piedmont
Mountain

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Photographer: scott_cave
Licensed under: CC BY-NC 4.0
Original photo: Original photo

iNaturalist Research-grade Observation Image Gallery
Additional Info

Habitat: Bogs, fens, seepage swamps, calcareous spring marshes, floodplain forests, stream banks, freshwater tidal marshes, wet meadows, and ditches. Frequent in the Virginia mountains and Piedmont; infrequent in the northern and central Coastal Plain.

 

Pruning Guidance
Pruning Time
Late spring (after insect emergence)
Pruning Method
Cut stems to 8–24 inches in spring
Chop-and-drop
Wildlife Benefits
Seedheads provide winter food for birds
Standing stems support overwintering insects
Cut stems retained at 8–24 inches support insect habitat
Pruning Notes
Leave stems and seedheads standing through fall and winter. Birds eat the seeds, and insects shelter in and on the stems. In late spring, after several nights above 50°F, cut the old stems to 8 to 24 inches at varied heights. Bees and other insects nest in the cut stubs the following summer. Lay the cut tops loosely in the bed so insects still inside can emerge.
Flower Color
Cream/White
Purple/lavender
Flower Prominence
Conspicuous
Bloom Time
Late Summer
Fall
Bloom Month
August
September
October
Light Requirements
Partial sun
Moisture Requirements
Wet
Pollinators
Bees
Butterfiles
Number of Lepidotera Species Genus Supports
100
Number of Pollen Specialist Bees that Rely on this Genus
33
Species-specific links
Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora - Species Account
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Species Account