Aster cordifolius
Common Blue Wood Aster
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Aster
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1.5 m
- Spread
- 1 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self
Uses
Edible uses
Leaves - cooked and used as greens[4].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
An infusion of the plant is used as an aromatic nervine and also in the treatment of rheumatism[4].
- Product or use
- Antirheumatic
- Product or use
- Aromatic
- Product or use
- Nervine
Environment
- Range
- Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to Ontario, Minnesota, Georgia and Missouri.
- Habitat
- Woods and thickets[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 3+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - surface sow in spring in a cold frame. Do not allow the compost to become dry. Pre-chilling the seed for two weeks can improve germination rates[2]. The seed usually germinates in 2 weeks at 20°c[2]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn[3]. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Cultivation
Succeeds in most good garden soils[1], preferring one that is well-drained and moisture retentive[3]. Prefers a sunny position[3]. Prefers a rich soil[1]. Plants can be naturalized in a woodland or other wild garden[3]. Most species in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[5]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[3].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5