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| ## New york aster {#new-york-aster .Title-Header}                     |
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| *Symphyotrichum novi-belgii* (L.) Nesom var. *novi-belgii*            |
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| Plant Symbol = SYNON                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

### 

# Alternative Name

Michaelmas daisy, *Aster novi-belgii*

# 

# Uses

*Landscape*: New York aster is an excellent upright perennial for a
mixed bed or border. This species provides a color accent, bringing
autumn color to the garden.

*Wildlife*: New York aster is known for attracting butterflies and moths
to areas where it is found growing. This is a good bee plant providing
nectar in the autumn. Most species in this genus seem to be immune to
the predictions of rabbits (Thomas 1990).

# Status

# Please consult the Plants Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values.

# Description

*General*: Aster family (Asteraceae). New York aster is an upright,
native perennial that grows between one and a half to five feet tall.
The leaves are elliptic to linear, smooth to scabrous above and glabrous
beneath (Radford, Ahles & Bell 1968). The disc flowers are red to
yellow. The flowers are hermaphrodite (having both male and female
organs) and are pollinated by bees, butterflies, flies, beetles and
moths.

*Distribution*: New York aster ranges from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia
south to Georgia, apparently to Alabama, chiefly near the coast (Tiner
1987). For current distribution, please consult the Plant profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.685416666666667in"
height="1.7902777777777779in"}

# Adaptation

New York aster is found growing in slightly brackish and tidal fresh
marshes, occasionally borders of salt marshes; inland marshes, shrub
marshes, shores and other moist areas (Tiner 1987). This plant requires
well-drained soil and prefers sandy, loamy and clay soils. It can grow
on nutritionally poor soil, in semi-shade or no shade but prefers a
sunny location.

# Establishment

*Propagation by Seed*: New York aster seeds should be sown fresh in the
fall or spring (Heuser 1997). Pre-chill spring sown seeds to improve
germination. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, place them
into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division of this
species should be done in the spring. Large divisions can be planted
into their permanent positions whereas smaller clumps should be kept in
a cold frame until they are growing well.

# Management

Divisions of New York aster should be done in the spring every three
years to maintain vigor (Heuser 1997). Regular spraying is recommended
for this species because it is prone to mildew and attack from pests.

# Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Available through some native plant seed sources. Contact your local
Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation
Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under
"United States Government." The Natural Resources Conservation Service
will be listed under the subheading "Department of Agriculture."

# References

Gleason, H.A. & A. Cronquist 1991. *Manual of the vascular plants of
northeastern United States and adjacent Canada*. 2^nd^ ed. The New York
Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York.

Heuser, C.W. 1997. *The complete book of plant propagation*. The Taunton
Press, Newtown, Connecticut.

Huxley, A. 1992. *The new RHS dictionary of gardening*. MacMillan Press,
New York, New York.

Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles, & C. Bell 1968. *Manual of the vascular flora
of the Carolinas*. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill,
North Carolina.

Thomas, G.S. 1990. *Perennial garden plants*. J.M. Dent & Sons, London

Tiner, R.W., Jr. 1987. *A field guide to the coastal wetland plants of
the northeastern United States*. The University of Massachusetts Press,
Amherst, Massachusetts.

# Prepared By

#### *Lincoln M. Moore*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

# Species Coordinator

*M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, c/o Plant Sciences Dept., Davis,
California

Edited: 19jun02 jsp; 04jun03 ahv; 060817 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
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*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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