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Aster macrophyllus Family - Asteraceae - Aster - Large Leaved Aster inhabits open woodland, its light blue or violet flowers brightening the forest. The one inch diameter flowers appear in a rounded cluster at the top of the plant, the leaves heart shaped at the base of the plant. This aster will grow from eight inches to near five foot tall. It’s range encompasses southeast Quebec in Canada in the north, south to Illinois and east to Delaware and North Carolina. The Large Leaved Aster’s young leaves may be used as greens, cooked and seasoned. The flowers appear in late September to mid October, the flowering branches are tacky from glands which produce a sticky substance. This fall blooming perennial wildflower may be a bit too weedy looking for the perennial garden, but in a meadow or prairie garden it will be quite at home. The Large Leaved Aster is colorful and airy, creating a nice spot of color among the goldenrod and boneset it sometimes keeps company with. Since there are some one hundred fifty different asters in North America, many closely resembling each other, identification can be sometimes hard to achieve. A good field guide to wildflowers is essential to proper identification to the asters. That is, if identification is really important to you. Just enjoying the color of these charming wildflowers is sometimes enough. |
