Willow Aster (Symphyotrichum praealtum)

from $3.50

Willow Aster is an attractive, late bloomer that the native bees love. It attracts a large variety of native bees, butterflies, and moths. It is the host plant to the Pearl Crescent and 42 other species of butterflies and moths (illnoiswildflower.info). I am going to make the assumption that Willow Aster has 36 specialist bees that use it as a host plant due to close members of the same family having the same (Johnson and Colla, 2023)! This plant is a spreader, so choose your planting spot wisely, preferably a spot where it can spread to its heart's desire.

Photo credit: John Blair

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Willow Aster is an attractive, late bloomer that the native bees love. It attracts a large variety of native bees, butterflies, and moths. It is the host plant to the Pearl Crescent and 42 other species of butterflies and moths (illnoiswildflower.info). I am going to make the assumption that Willow Aster has 36 specialist bees that use it as a host plant due to close members of the same family having the same (Johnson and Colla, 2023)! This plant is a spreader, so choose your planting spot wisely, preferably a spot where it can spread to its heart's desire.

Photo credit: John Blair

Life Cycle: Perennial

Sun Exposure: Full-Partial shade

Soil Moisture: Wet-Medium

Height: 2-5 feet

Plant Spacing: 2-3 feet

Bloom Time: September-October

Bloom Color: White to lavender

Advantages: Caterpillar Favorite, Pollinator Favorite, Bird Favorite

Host Plant: Pearl Crescent and 42 other species of butterflies and moths in our area (illnoiswildflower.info)

Specialist Bee: I am making the assumption that this is similar to other asters. Andrena asteris, A. aliciae, A. simplex, A. asteroides, A. canadensis, A. chromotricha, A. hirticincta, A nubecula, A. placata, A. simplex, Calliopsis coloradensis, Colletes americanus, C. compactus, C. rufocinctus, C. simulans, C. speculiferus, Melissodes dentiventris, M. boltoniae, M. confuses, M. coreopsis, M. dentiventris, M. druriellus, M. illatus, M. lustrus, M. menuachus, M. microstictus, M. niveus, M. semilupinus, M. subagilis, M. subillatus, M. tinctus, M. trinodis, Perdita octomaculata, P. albipinnis, Pseudopanurgus aestivalis, P. andrenoides, P. compositarum, Megachile inimical, Anthophorula asteris, and Dianthidium simile  (Johnson and Colla, 2023)

Resource: Johnson, Lorraine, and Sheila Colla. A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Upper Midwest. Island Press, 2023

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