New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is a large, summer-blooming perennial.
It’s characteristic aster flowerheads sport vibrant purple petals, with bright yellow flower centers. You’ll often see bees and butterflies of all shapes and sizes bumbling around these flowers.
All true asters are host plants for the Pearl Crescent butterfly’s eggs and caterpillars. New England aster is the showiest of Ohio’s asters with more petals than other asters, and they can grow in just about any setting.
Where else can you see this plant growing at the Arboretum?
Look for New England aster in the Wildflower Garden and in the meadows nearby Corning Lake.
Here’s more to explore
November 8, 2023
Caterpillars at the Nursery
By M Onion, Nursery Plant Propagator Grower
The nursery at the Holden Arboretum takes care of a great number of species. One polyhouse alone currently contains between 300 and 400 species and cultivars. Among all these plants,... more
August 11, 2023
It’s Poppin’: August 11th
By Tom Arbour, M.En., Curator of Living Collections
The beginning of school is near- how is that possible? We’ve reached the summer peak! Our gardens that attract pollinators across our campuses are THE places to be as summer... more
July 18, 2023
Butterfly Garden Bed Renovation
By Lori Gogolin, Horticulturist
Pollinator gardening has become a popular hobby for many people. Where pollinator gardens are both beautiful and beneficial it doesn’t take long for things to get out of control. Plants... more
March 27, 2023
Behind the Scenes with Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Butterflies
By Matt Edwards, Animal Care Specialist It’s that time of year, the Return of the Butterflies. Have you ever wondered where Cleveland Botanical Garden’s biome butterflies come from, how they... more
January 4, 2023
Season Extending Plants for Pollinators
By Lori Gogolin, Horticulturist
Some of the best pollinator gardens include just a few key features that make them work well. Food, water, shelter and host plants. One way to have the most food... more
August 24, 2022
Milkweed: Beneficial and Beautiful
By Lori Gogolin, Horticulturist
Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) are beneficial host plants for the Monarch butterflies. The plant provides the adult female Monarch with a place to lay her eggs. Once those eggs hatch the... more
August 24, 2022
Lip Sumac-ing Good: Wonderful, and Edible Sumac
By Heather Wade, Gardener
Peeking up above the Echinacea, Phlox, and turtlehead in the Holden Arboretum’s, Arlene and Arthur S. Holden Jr. Butterfly Garden are the bright red, cone-shape infructescence of the staghorn sumac.... more
May 17, 2022
Blue false indigo & Clouded Sulphur
Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) is a flowering plant in the pea family (Fabaceae). This plant grows upright and makes an excellent border plant for your pollinator garden. It’s deep blue... more
May 17, 2022
Prairie ironweed & American Lady
Prairie ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) is a staple meadow plant, growing tall and blooming in late summer and fall. It is self-seeding as seeds fall to the ground at the end of... more
