New England aster
New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is the anchor of the late bloom period in northern pollinator mixes. Flowering from late August into October, it fuels monarch butterflies during fall migration and provides the last major nectar source for bumble bee queens before overwintering.
Why landowners plant new england aster
- Fills the CP42 late bloom-period requirement in most northern states.
- Primary fall nectar source on the monarch migration corridor.
- Supports late-season bumble bee queens that determine next year's colonies.
- Showy purple bloom makes established plantings visibly successful in fall.
Site fit
Best on mesic and wet-mesic ground with reasonable fertility. Include in CP42 pollinator mixes, monarch-focused blends, wet-prairie mixes, and CP43 prairie strips throughout the northern tier.
Establishment
Very small seed requiring light and cold-moist stratification — surface sow with a dormant seeding. Blooms in year two, peaks in years three and four.
Management
Fire tolerant. Late-season mowing before mid-September removes the bloom that makes it valuable — schedule any mowing before bud set.
CRP practice fit
Standard late bloom-period species in northern pollinator specs.
Diversity forb on mesic and wet-mesic reconstructions.
Included in wetland buffer upslope zones.
Featured mixes with new england aster
Pairs well with
Stiff goldenrod · Big bluestem · Swamp milkweed · Gray-headed coneflower
Frequently asked questions
CP42 specifications require bloom in three periods, and the late period is the hardest to fill. Asters flower from late August into October, exactly when migrating monarchs and bumble bee queens need fuel and almost nothing else is blooming.
It performs best on mesic to wet-mesic ground. On dry uplands, substitute aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) or sky-blue aster to fill the same late bloom window.