Ontario Wildflowers website

New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
(formerly Aster novae-angliae)

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) Other scientific names: Aster novae-angliae, Aster roseus, Lasallea novae-angliae, Virgulus novae-angliae

French names: Aster de la Nouvelle-Angleterre

Family: Composite Family (Asteraceae)

Group: Asters

Distinctive features: Large rose-purple flowers, with very numerous rays. Clasping leaves. Rough stem. Leaves smell a bit spicy when crushed.

Similar species:
  •   Purple-stemmed Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum) - grows in wet areas, flowers have fewer rays. Leaves do not smell spicy when crushed.

  •   Amethyst Aster (Symphyotrichum x amethystinum) - a hybrid between New England Aster & Heath Aster - much like a miniature New England Aster with more leaves and smaller leaves.


Flowers: Summer, Autumn;  White, Blue/Violet;  7 or more parts (petals);  3cm in diameter. Ray flowers: very numerous, 50-75, dark rose-purple to pink, sometimes white. Disc flowers: 50-100, yellow becoming purple.

Leaves: Clasping stem. Crowded along the stem. Have three prominent veins. Lower leaves have usually disappeared by flowering time. Leaves are toothless. Smell a little bit spicy when crushed.

Height: 60-150 cm (23-59 in)

Stem: Bristly-hairy. Stout.

Habitat: Fields and Open Areas;  Open areas, fields, roadsides.

Grows in Sun/Shade: Sun

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 460    Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 308, 356    ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 191   

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Common.

Notes: This is the very common Aster that many people are familiar with. The very many ray flowers are distinctive. It is often sold in nurseries as a garden plant.

Photographs: 204 photographs available, of which 18 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

The bright blue flowers of New England Aster.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

New England Aster has a lot of ray flowers - as many as 70.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

Side view of a New England Aster flower.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

Occasionally, New England Aster has white flowers. But so does Purple-stemmed Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum), and these two species can be easily confused.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

Closeup of an opening flower.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

New England Aster flowers can be found blooming quite late. These flowers have snow on them, in mid-October.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

Underside of a New England Aster flower.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

Bumblebees and other insects love New England Aster flowers.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

These are relatively tall Asters, usually about 4-6 feet tall. This distinguishes them from the Amethyst Aster (Symphyotrichum x amethystinum), which is a hybrid between the New England Aster and Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides).

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

The upper part of the stem is often crooked as shown here.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

The characteristic clasping leaves. This is not the only Aster with clasping leaves, however.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

Here is one set of examples of the three species, L-R:
Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides),
Amethyst Aster (Symphyotrichum x amethystinum),
and New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

And another set, L-R:
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae),
Amethyst Aster (Symphyotrichum x amethystinum),
and Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides).


Range map for New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)