Pollinator plant

smooth blue aster

Aster laevis

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Common names

19 names · 15 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (14)
Dutch
French
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 平光联毛紫菀[3]
Czech
  • astřička hladká[3]
Danish
  • sommerens farvel[3]
Estonian
  • sile aster[3]
  • sile sügisaster[3]
German
Hungarian
  • simalevelű őszirózsa[3]
Lithuanian
  • Plikasis astrūnas[3]
Norwegian
  • snauasters[3]
Polish
  • aster gładki[3]
Russian
  • Американская астра гладкая[3]
  • Астра голая[3]
Slovak
  • astra hladká[3]
Swedish
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Symphyotrichum laeve — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Smooth Blue Aster — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • Smooth Aster — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Symphyotrichum laeve.
[2] Symphyotrichum laeve — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • smooth blue aster — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • Glatte Herbstaster — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • glaucous Michaelmas-daisy — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • aster lisse — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • Gladde aster — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
[3] Symphyotrichum laeve — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • smooth blue aster — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • Glatte Herbstaster — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • glaucous Michaelmas-daisy — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • aster lisse — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • Gladde aster — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • astřička hladká — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • snauasters — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • Астра голая — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • Plikasis astrūnas — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • sile sügisaster — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • sile aster — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • daggaster — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • sommerens farvel — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • simalevelű őszirózsa — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • 平光联毛紫菀 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • aster gładki — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • astra hladká — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
  • Американская астра гладкая — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 129607; Symphyotrichum laeve.
[4] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Symphyotrichum laeve ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Glatte Herbstaster (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 144432; taxon 53Q86.
  • Smooth aster (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 144433; taxon 53Q86.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Catalogue of Life treats Aster laevis as a synonym of Symphyotrichum laeve.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family
Asteraceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.61–1.22 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum laeve; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Mature spread
0.61–1.22 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum laeve; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Plant habit
Clumping; Erect; Spreading

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum laeve; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum laeve; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum laeve; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum laeve; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum laeve; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum laeve; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum laeve; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [3]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, pollinators, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile, published as Symphyotrichum laeve; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [3]
Native range
C. & E. Canada to NC. & E. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Plant profile

About this plant

smooth blue aster (Aster laevis) is a herbaceous plant. Its flowering period is not specified.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Aster laevis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 4872059; ID HQCH; rank species; status synonym

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Symphyotrichum laeve — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1316141; ID 53Q86; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1316141; ID 53Q86; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  3. NC State Extension Symphyotrichum laeve — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Symphyotrichum laeve — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 510058, 510059; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1664536, 1664537, 1664538, 1664539, 1664540, 1664541, 1664542, 1664543, 1664544, 1664545, 1664546, 1664547, 1664548, 1664549, 1664550, 1664551, 1664552, 1664553, 1664554, 1664555, 1664556, 1664557, 1664558, 1664559, 1664560, 1664561, 1664562, 1664563, 1664564, 1664565, 1664566, 1664567, 1664568, 1664569, 1664570, 1664571, 1664572, 1664573, 1664574, 1664575, 1664576, 1664577, 1664578, 1664579, 1664580, 1664581, 1664582, 1664583, 1664584, 1664585, 1664586, 1664587, 1664588, 1664589, 1664590, 1664591

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.