Western Silver Aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum), also known as Silky Aster, is a striking perennial that brings both beauty and ecological value to sunny, well-drained gardens. Its willowy stems emerge in early spring, eventually reaching 2 to 3 feet in height and 1 to 2 feet in width. The foliage is cloaked in soft, silvery hairs that shimmer in the light, giving the plant its distinctive, ethereal appearance. In bloom, it offers a profusion of cornflower blue flowers that serve as a rich nectar source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. It also plays a vital role as a larval host for the Pearl Crescent butterfly. Thriving in sandy soils and full sun, Western Silver Aster is a graceful, low-maintenance addition to native plantings, pollinator gardens, and naturalistic landscapes.
- Perennial
- Size: 2-3 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. wide
- Flower: Cornflower blue
- Exposure: Full sun
- Moisture: Well-drained
- Soil: Sand
- Nectar source for a wide variety of bees, butterflies and other pollinators
- Larval host for Pearl Crescent
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