PlantFiles: Skyblue Aster
Symphyotrichum oolentangiense

Small, but abundant vividly blue flowers with yellow centers seem to float from a distance, as the stems are very delicate & the long, narrow leaves are located fairly low on the stems. Blooms from August to first hard frost. Leaves are very scabrous (rough like fine sandpaper). Native to the prairie regions of the U.S., as well as some non-prairie states, it attracts butterflies as well as other pollinators.

Fairly drought tolerant, it will do fairly well in dry to mesic soils. We regularly get specimens in the 4-5' height range in our rich NE Iowa soil. Does not need cold treatment, and in fact we've had fairly poor germination success when we fall sowed the seed compared to spring indoor seeding.

I most often see this listed under the Aster azureus scientific name in native plant nursery lists, and in fact some of the best native prairie nurseries (IMHO) all list it such rather than under the Symphyotrichum genus. I like it intermixed with showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa), which is a similar height, blooms during the same period, and has a showy golden yellow flower stalk.

Found primarily in the tallgrass prairie of the central U.S., this aster has blue-green, heart shaped leaves on multi-branched stalks. it blooms in the fall, with small daisy-like flowers of brilliant blue with yellow centers. This hardy, versatile aster likes sandy loam but can take heavy soils; is drought tolerant; and grows in full sun to part shade.