North Carolina Botanical Garden

Plant Index

Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Genus:
Family:

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Nutt.) G.L. Nesom

eastern aromatic aster, aromatic aster, shale-barren aster

Synonym(s): Aster kumleinii, Aster oblongifolius, Aster oblongifolius var. angustatus, Aster oblongifolius var. orientis, Aster oblongifolius var. rigidulus, Lasallea oblongifolia
Cultivar(s): Fanny, October Skies, Raydon's Favorite

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Eastern Aromatic Aster)

Image ID: 19731
Image by: Dakar, Jacob
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library

PLANT INDEX

ID_PLANT: SYOB
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Include in WOTAS: 0
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2019-02-25

CULTIVAR INDEX

Cult_id	Cultivar_name	Action
1095	Fanny	View
163	October Skies	View
4	Raydon's Favorite	View

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:
STEMS:
LEAVES:
INFLORESCENCE:
FLOWERS:
FRUITS:
COMMENTS:
HEIGHT: 3 ft.

DURATION: Perennial
HABIT: Herb

LEAF ARRANGEMENT: Basal
LEAF COMPLEXITY:
LEAF RETENTION:

FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS
SYMMETRY:
BLOOM TIME: Late Sep-Oct

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

BLOOM COLOR: Light purple flowers

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

FRUITING PERIOD:

DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE:
NATIVE RANGE: eastern & central United States

HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text: One of our finest native asters, aromatic American-aster has a densely mounded form. In October, each plant is profusely covered with light purple flowers that have bright yellow centers. One loveable characteristic of this plant is its ability to tolerate less than ideal planting conditions including lean soils and dry sites. Its late bloom time also helps to extend the garden’s beauty and provide resources for fall pollinators.

Bloom Table Text:

NCBG Location:

Cultural Notes:

SOIL MOISTURE: Dry, Average
LIGHT EXPOSURE: Sun, Part Shade
MINIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 4
MAXIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 8
GERMINATION CODE:
WILDLIFE VALUE: Bee Friendly, Butterfly Friendly
DEER RESISTANCE:

GRIM ACCESSIONS

acc_id	acc_num	acc_dt	coll_id	Action
6577	1996-0210			View
8632	2006-0222	2006-08-25		View
8828	2007-0103	2007-05-30		View
8829	2007-0104	2007-05-30		View
8830	2007-0105	2007-05-30		View
8831	2007-0106	2007-05-30		View
8840	2007-0115	2007-05-30		View
9263	2019-0022	2019-12-02	0	View
9264	2019-0023	2019-12-02	1972	View
9517	2021-0154	2022-08-23	0	View

GRIM COLLECTIONS

Coll_id	Project	Collection date	Collector	Action
1972	HORT	0000-00-00	Wenck	View

GRIM PLANTINGS

plt_num	acc_id	loc_num	pers_num	inst_dt	Action
9290	6577	142	NCBG staff	1967-12-31	View
11827	8632	139	NCBG staff	2002-01-01	View
11828	8632	205	NCBG staff	2005-04-01	View
12236	8829	44	Liloia	2011-05-10	View
12389	9263	139	Wenck	2019-11-18	View
12390	9264	140	Wenck	2019-11-18	View
13209	9517	38	Wait	2021-11-23	View
13212	9517	228	Wait	2021-11-23	View
13213	9517	229	Wait	2021-11-23	View

USDA PLANTS DATABASE

USDA Symbol: SYOB
USDA Common Name: Aromatic Aster
Native Status: L48 (N)
Distribution: USA (AL, AR, CO, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV, WY)
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Forb/herb

2018 Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Plant Species of North Carolina

NHP ID	S RANK	ROUNDED S RANK	G RANK	ROUNDED G RANK	STATE STATUS	FEDERAL STATUS
21585	S1	S1	G5	G5	T

This information is derived from the 2018 North Carolina Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Plant Species.

WEAKLEY FLORA

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
COMMON NAME: Eastern Aromatic Aster, Shale-barren Aster
SYNONYMY: [= FNA, Il, K, Pa, Va, X; = A. oblongifolius - C, F, RAB, S, W; > Aster oblongifolius Nuttall var. angustatus Shinners - G, SE; > A. oblongifolius var. orientis Shinners - WV; = Virgulus oblongifolius (Nuttall) Reveal & Keener]
PHENOLOGY: Late Sep-Oct.
HABITAT: Rock outcrops and dry woodlands over limestone, calcareous shale.
COMMENTS: NY, WI, MN, and MT, south to sc. VA, w. NC, nc. AL, n. MS, TX, and NM.
RANGE MAP: Symphyotrichum oblongifolium.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 oblongifolium in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)
UNC SERNEC: Find Symphyotrichum oblongifolium in University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)

WEB RESOURCES

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

IMAGE USE RECORDS

ID IMAGE: 19731 - Primary Image FloraQuest Plant Detail Page (Landscape Preferred)
ID IMAGE1: 2770 - Primary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE2: 8187 - Secondary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE3: 19731 - Primary Image Plant Sale Sign (Landscape Only)
ID IMAGE4: 0 - Primary Image New Plant Sale Label (Portrait Only)