Douglas Aster

Symphyotrichum cf. douglasii

• Description: Perennial herb up to 140 cm tall, spreading by underground rhizomes. Violet flowers with bright yellow centres appear in late summer.
• Habitat: Moist to mesic meadows, roadsides, streambanks, and open forests.
• Pair with: Yarrow, coastal gumweed, blue-eyed grass, and Canada goldenrod.
• Fun Fact: American asters are late-flowering native species, providing valuable resources for pollinators during the driest months of the year. The taxonomy of this group is complex and under revision; this species is often identified as the “Douglas aster”.