Aster, Short's

Short's Aster (Symphyotrichum shortii)

Short’s Aster is a tough, shade-tolerant native perennial with delicate pale lavender to blue flowers that bloom in early fall. Valued for its late-season nectar, it's a magnet for butterflies and native bees at a time when few other plants are blooming in the woodland understory. This aster thrives in part shade, making it a go-to for woodland edges, savannas, and shaded pollinator plantings.

Key Characteristics

• Late-Season Pollinator Support
  Short’s Aster is a critical nectar source for monarchs during fall migration and supports a wide range of native bees, including specialist species like Andrena asteris that depend on asters for pollen.

• Host Plant for Butterfly Larvae
  Serves as a larval host plant for the Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) and several checkerspot species, contributing to the full life cycle support for these butterflies.

• Thrives in Shade and Woodland Edges
  One of the few asters that performs well in part shade to full shade, Short’s Aster is ideal for adding late-season color and ecological function to oak-hickory understories, streambanks, and north-facing slopes.

• Low-Maintenance and Spreads Naturally
  Once established, this aster is drought-tolerant and spreads gently by rhizomes to form attractive colonies, making it excellent for naturalistic plantings and erosion control on shady slopes.

• Supports Overwintering Insects
  The stems and basal foliage provide winter shelter and nesting sites for overwintering insects, including native bees that nest in pithy stems.

Product Details

• Native range: Central and Eastern U.S., especially Kentucky, Ohio, and surrounding regions

• Plant life cycle: Perennial

• Sun requirements: Part shade to full shade

• Soil requirements: Medium to medium-dry; tolerant of clay soils

• Mature height: 2–3 feet

• Bloom time: September to October

• Bloom color: Pale blue to lavender

• USDA Hardiness zones: 4–8

Short’s Aster is an excellent addition to native woodland gardens, shade pollinator meadows, and restoration plantings. Its ecological value extends beyond its beautiful blooms into the winter season through its support of native insects and soil health. Pair it with goldenrods, woodland grasses, and fall-blooming companions for a layered, resilient landscape.