Heart-leaved Aster

Heart-leaved Aster

Symphyotrichum cordifolium

A graceful woodland aster with delicate sprays of pale blue to lavender star-shaped flowers that brighten shaded forests in late summer and fall. Its softly textured, heart-shaped leaves give the plant its name and form attractive ground-level foliage early in the season before tall flowering stems emerge.

By early autumn, clouds of small blossoms cover the plant, creating a light and airy display that provides vital nectar for pollinators preparing for winter.

The Woodland Autumn Star

Blooming as summer fades, Heart-leaved Aster offers nourishment to many native bees and butterflies when few woodland plants are still flowering. As one of the later blooming forest wildflowers, it plays an important role in sustaining pollinators late in the growing season.

A Wildflower of Woodland Edges and Forests

Heart-leaved Aster grows naturally in deciduous woodlands, forest edges, and shaded slopes where it thrives in partial shade and rich woodland soils. It spreads gently through rhizomes, forming natural colonies that weave beautifully through woodland plant communities.

Because of its adaptability and late-season blooms, it is an excellent plant for woodland restoration and shade gardens.

Growing Information

Height: 2–4 ft

Spread: 1–3 ft (forming colonies)

Light: Part shade to full shade

Soil: Average to rich woodland soils

Hardiness: Zone 3–8

Growth Rate: Moderate

Best planted in woodland gardens, forest restorations, shaded borders, and naturalized understory plantings.

Ecological Importance

Heart-leaved Aster:

Provides late-season nectar for woodland bees and butterflies

Supports biodiversity in forest understory ecosystems

Forms natural colonies that help protect woodland soils

Adds structure and late color to shaded landscapes

Larval host for
• Pearl Crescent Butterfly (Phyciodes tharos)
• Wavy-lined Emerald Moth (Synchlora aerata)
• Harris’s Three-spot Moth (Harrisimemna trisignata)

Associated Woodland Species

Common companions in natural woodland plant communities include:

• White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)
• Large-leaved Aster (Eurybia macrophylla)
• Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
• Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
• Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
• Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
• Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)

Planting these species together helps recreate layered woodland ecosystems that support pollinators, insects, and forest wildlife.

Planting to Protect
Restoring to Thrive 🌱
Origin Native Plants 🌱

3.5 inch Pots