Also known as heart-leaved aster, this shade-loving charmer has heart-shaped leaves at ground level that form an attractive groundcover in spring. The leaves become more ovate further up the plant as it matures. Blue flowers with yellow centers appear in late summer and persist into fall, providing an important source of nourishment for many different types of pollinators. As flowers are pollinated, their centers turn purplish pink, signifying to pollinators where to focus their efforts. Blue wood asters are tough and adaptable, flourishing in difficult, disturbed sites in a wide variety of soil types.
 
Plant Characteristics:
Grows 1-3' tall.
 
Needs at least 3 hours of sun.
 
Does well in dry, average and moist soils. Drought tolerant once established.
 
For a more compact plant, pinch back the stems before flowering occurs. Beautiful when paired with goldenrods that flower at a similar time.
 
Wildlife Value:
Asters are the host plant for 112 species of moths and butterflies and are the only host plant for Eucosma parmatana, Eucosma tomonana, Eucosma essexana and Cochylis hoffmanana moths. Asters attract loads of late season pollinating insects. In winter, they provide food and habitat for many birds and small mammals that feed on the seeds and find shelter in the dried stalks. Seed heads in fall and winter attract goldfinches, chickadees, nuthatches, and towhees.
 
Medicinal, Edible, and Other Uses:
Native Americans harvested wild aster for use in soups, and young leaves were cooked lightly and used as greens. The Iroquois combined aster with bloodroot and other medicinal plants to make a laxative. The Ojibwa used an infusion of aster root topically to aid with headaches. Portions of the flower were also used to treat venereal diseases.
 
The flowers make a beautiful salad garnish. They may also be brewed as a tea.