Symphyotrichum laeve
Common Name: Smooth Blue Aster
Smooth Blue Aster is a showy, upright perennial reaching 1 to 3 feet tall, thriving in prairies, savannas, and open woodlands. It features smooth, bluish-green leaves and striking violet-blue flowers with yellow centers that bloom from late summer to fall. This species is highly attractive to pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, and provides critical late-season nectar. Its tolerance for a range of soils makes it a versatile addition to prairie plantings, pollinator gardens, and native borders.