Common Name: New England Aster

Scientific Name: Aster novae-angliae

Habitat & Range: moist, sun, prairies, roadsides throughout the state

Bloom Time: autumn

About: Late fall really is a lovely time, even if our recent snow up in Michigan is telling us that it’s over. Along with the goldenrod and gentian we’ve seen previously on Wildflower Wednesday, the beautiful native New England Aster brings bursts of color to compliment the reds, oranges, yellows, and browns of fall. While it ranges from white to pink to lavender to deep purple, the New England Aster usually looks just about as it does in this photo taken on the grounds of Camp Lael in Lapeer, Michigan. Asters are often found in perennial gardens, but they can be quite leggy. Plant them in waves and prune the plant down in the late spring to keep them more compact, or put them near the back of the bed where other plants will hide their ugly stems.

Reference: Wildflowers of Michigan by Stan Tekiela; Adventure Publications, 2000