North Carolina Botanical Garden

Plant Index

Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Genus:
Family:

Symphyotrichum grandiflorum

Symphyotrichum grandiflorum (L.) G.L. Nesom

large-flower american-aster, big-headed aster, largeflower aster

Synonym(s): Aster grandiflorus, Lasallea grandiflora

Symphyotrichum grandiflorum (Large-flower American-aster)

Image ID: 17675
Image by: Sorrie, Bruce A.
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library

PLANT INDEX

ID_PLANT: SYGR5
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Symphyotrichum grandiflorum
Include in WOTAS: 1
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2018-09-23

GENUS INDEX

GENUS CODE: SYMPH4
GENUS SCIENTIFIC: Symphyotrichum
GENUS AUTHORITY: Nees
GENUS COMMON: Aster
GENUS SUMMARY: A genus of about 90 species, of the Americas and e. Asia, most diverse in our area.
GENUS IDENTIFICATION:
GENUS REFERENCES: Brouillet et al. FNA (2006b); Brouillet & Semple (1981); Cronquist (1980)=SE; Jones (1980a, 1980b, 1984); Jones & Young (1983); R. Jones (1983)=Z; R. Jones (1992); Lamboy (1987, 1992)=Y; Nesom (1994)=X; Nesom (2005b)=V; Nesom (1993a, 1993b, 1994, 1997); Campbell & Seymour (2014)=J; Noyes & Rieseberg (1999); Semple & Brouillet (1980a, 1980b); Semple, Chmielewski, & Lane (1989); Semple, Heard, & Xiang (1996); Sundberg (2004)=Q; Reveal & Keener (1981); Warners & Laughlin (1999); Xiang & Semple (1996). Key to subgenus Astropolium based on Nesom (2005b).

FAMILY INDEX

FAMILY CODE: ASTERA
FAMILY SCIENTIFIC: Asteraceae
FAMILY AUTHORITY: Dumortier 1822 or COMPOSITAE Giseke 1792
FAMILY COMMON: Aster Family
FAMILY SUMMARY: A family of about 1500-1700 genera and 20,000-25,000 species, shrubs, herbs, trees, and vines, cosmopolitan in distribution.
FAMILY REFERENCE: Cronquist (1980)=SE throughout family treatment.

NCBG DESCRIPTIVES

INTRO: Erect, rhizomatous and colonial perennial of dry woodlands, forest edges, road banks and powerline rights-of-way.
STEMS: Stem stiff, with long and ascending branches and 30+ nodes below the inflorescence, roughly to spreading-hairy.
LEAVES: Leaves alternate, sessile with heart-shaped and clasping base, spreading, lance-shaped to oblong or linear, 1/3-2 1/2 in. long (much reduced upward), rough-hairy; lower leaves shrivel early.
INFLORESCENCE:
FLOWERS: Composite flowers (heads) in a terminal panicle; heads 1-1 1/4 in. wide, consisting of 20-30 narrow, violet ray florets encircling a center disk of 25-35 yellow (becoming reddish-purple) tubular florets. 3-4 series of spreading or reflexed, spoon- to oblong-lance-shaped bracts surround the bell-shaped base of each head.
FRUITS: Fruit a tan-tufted achene.
COMMENTS:
HEIGHT: 2-3 ft.

DURATION: Perennial
HABIT: Herb

LEAF ARRANGEMENT: Alternate, Basal
LEAF COMPLEXITY: Simple
LEAF RETENTION:

FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS
SYMMETRY: Mixed
BLOOM TIME: Late Sept-Nov

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
								x	x	x	x

BLOOM COLOR: Purple

White	Red	Pink	Orange	Yellow	Green	Blue	Lavender	Purple	Violet	Brown	Not Applicable
	x							x

FRUITING PERIOD:

DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE: Disturbed, Dry forests, Woods margins
NATIVE RANGE: VA, NC & SC

HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text: This SE native perennial is one of the last asters to bloom in the fall. It bears many flower heads in panicles, with yellow central disc flowers surrounded by lavender-blue rays. Large-flower American-aster is a fine late-season nectar source for butterflies. This perennial can tolerate sunny lean sites once it is established. Large-flower American-aster is found at the edges of woods and in old fields of the piedmont and coastal plain. Its native range is from Virginia to South Carolina.

Bloom Table Text:

NCBG Location:

Cultural Notes:

SOIL MOISTURE: Dry, Average, Well-drained
LIGHT EXPOSURE: Sun, Part Shade, Shade
MINIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 6
MAXIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 9
GERMINATION CODE: 1
WILDLIFE VALUE: Bee Friendly, Butterfly Friendly
DEER RESISTANCE:

GRIM ACCESSIONS

acc_id	acc_num	acc_dt	coll_id	Action
231	2011-0059	2011-04-05	230	View
360	2011-0232	2011-11-04	364	View
2440	1986-2281			View
2692	1987-0161			View
4398	1992-0554			View
9070	2002-0080	0000-00-00	1669	View
9127	2006-0316	2006-10-11	1160	View

GRIM COLLECTIONS

Coll_id	Project	Collection date	Collector	Action
230	HORT	2009-12-01	Poythress	View
364	HORT		NCBG staff	View
1160	HORT	2001-11-20	Bryan	View
1388	HORT	2006-11-15	Bryan	View
1669	HORT		Bryan	View
2113	NPMD	2020-11-02	Marzolf	View
2340	NPMD	2019-11-08	Touloupas	View
2371	NPMD	2019-12-03	Touloupas	View
2373	NPMD	2019-12-03	Touloupas	View
2374	NPMD	2019-12-03	Touloupas	View
2375	NPMD	2019-12-03	Touloupas	View
2471	NPMD	2018-12-05	Kunz	View
2472	NPMD	2018-12-05	Kunz	View
2473	NPMD	2018-12-05	Kunz	View
2487	NPMD	2017-12-01	Kunz	View
2488	NPMD	2017-12-01	Kunz	View
2489	NPMD	2017-12-01	Kunz	View
2490	NPMD	2017-12-01	Kunz	View
2547	NPMD	2021-12-15	Pil	View
2636	NPMD	2022-11-22	Marzolf	View

GRIM PLANTINGS

plt_num	acc_id	loc_num	pers_num	inst_dt	Action
481	231	32	NCBG staff	2011-03-29	View
482	231	28	NCBG staff	2011-03-29	View
483	231	29	NCBG staff	2011-03-29	View
484	231	19	NCBG staff	2011-05-12	View
876	360	32	NCBG staff	2011-11-01	View
4147	2440	27	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
4148	2440	143	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
4498	2692	8	NCBG staff	1978-11-13	View
6726	4398	200	NCBG staff	1993-03-01	View
11169	9070	27	NCBG staff	2002-10-25	View
11890	9127	143	Liloia	2006-10-06	View
12176	231	28	Mixon	2012-03-28	View
12177	231	29	Mixon	2012-03-28	View
13147	0	18	Liloia	0000-00-00	View

USDA PLANTS DATABASE

USDA Symbol: SYGR5
USDA Common Name: Largeflower Aster
Native Status: L48 (N)
Distribution: USA (NC, SC, VA)
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Forb/herb

WEAKLEY FLORA

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Symphyotrichum grandiflorum
COMMON NAME: Big-headed Aster
SYNONYMY: [= FNA, K, Va, X; = Aster grandiflorus Linnaeus - C, F, G, RAB, S, SE, W; = Virgulus grandiflorus (Linnaeus) Reveal & Keener]
PHENOLOGY: Late Sep-Nov.
HABITAT: Dry woodlands, forest edges; roadbanks and powerline rights-of-way.
COMMENTS: E. and c. VA south through e. and c. NC to to nc. SC.
RANGE MAP: Symphyotrichum grandiflorum.png

Key to Map Symbols

ABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora)
Asteraceae Dumortier 1822 or COMPOSITAE Giseke 1792 (Aster Family)
SUMMARY: A family of about 1500-1700 genera and 20,000-25,000 species, shrubs, herbs, trees, and vines, cosmopolitan in distribution.
REFERENCE: Cronquist (1980)=SE throughout family treatment.

ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora)
Symphyotrichum Nees (Aster)
SUMMARY: A genus of about 90 species, of the Americas and e. Asia, most diverse in our area.
REFERENCE: Brouillet et al. FNA (2006b); Brouillet & Semple (1981); Cronquist (1980)=SE; Jones (1980a, 1980b, 1984); Jones & Young (1983); R. Jones (1983)=Z; R. Jones (1992); Lamboy (1987, 1992)=Y; Nesom (1994)=X; Nesom (2005b)=V; Nesom (1993a, 1993b, 1994, 1997); Campbell & Seymour (2014)=J; Noyes & Rieseberg (1999); Semple & Brouillet (1980a, 1980b); Semple, Chmielewski, & Lane (1989); Semple, Heard, & Xiang (1996); Sundberg (2004)=Q; Reveal & Keener (1981); Warners & Laughlin (1999); Xiang & Semple (1996). Key to subgenus Astropolium based on Nesom (2005b).

HERBARIUM RESOURCES

SERNEC: Find Symphyotrichum grandiflorum in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)
UNC SERNEC: Find Symphyotrichum grandiflorum in University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)

WEB RESOURCES

USDA: Find Symphyotrichum grandiflorum in USDA Plants
NPIN: Find Symphyotrichum grandiflorum in NPIN Database
FNA: Find Symphyotrichum grandiflorum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Symphyotrichum grandiflorum

IMAGE USE RECORDS

ID IMAGE: 17675 - Primary Image FloraQuest Plant Detail Page (Landscape Preferred)
ID IMAGE1: 30681 - Primary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE2: 0 - Secondary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE3: 20621 - Primary Image Plant Sale Sign (Landscape Only)
ID IMAGE4: 30684 - Primary Image New Plant Sale Label (Portrait Only)