Symphyotrichum georgianum (Alexander) G.L. Nesom

Georgia Aster

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Georgia Aster is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is found in central Alabama in the Piedmont and in south Alabama south of the Black Belt area. Georgia Aster also occurs in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It grows in rocky woods, dry pine-oak woodlands, on roadside banks, and in power line corridors. It is similar to Common Clasping Aster (Symphyotrichum patens (Aiton) G. L. Nesom), and has been treated as a variety of that species (Aster patens Aiton, var. georgianus (Alexander) Cronquist). It differs in that it is colonial from rhizomes, has revolute leaf margins, and larger ray flowers. Georgia Aster is listed as an S2S3 plant in Alabama (S2 - Typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable in the state S3 - Typically 21 to 100 occurrences, limited acreage, or miles of stream in the state) and globally as a G2G3 plant (G2 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors G3 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors). Georgia Aster is sometimes available from wildflower nurseries. It prefers full or partial sun and well-draining soils. It works well in a perennial bed, at the edge of woodlands, and in a wildflower meadow.--A. Diamond

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Native S2S3 (State Rank) G2G3 (Global Rank)

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