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Purple-stemmed Aster
Symphyotrichum puniceum

a.k.a. Purplestem Aster

Purple-stemmed aster prefers wet soils and attracts many insects and pollinators.

USDA symbol: SYPU

General Information

Plant Type	Forb
Height	2 to 3 feet
Light Exposure	Sun
Soil Moisture	Wet
Bloom Color	White, Purple, Pink

Purple-stemmed Aster (Purple-stemmed Aster<div><em class="small">Symphyotrichum puniceum</em></div>) — Photo credit: United States Department of Agriculture (Click to enlarge)

Tolerances

Flooding / Inundation Tolerance	Moderate
General Resilience	8
Salt Tolerance	None
Stress Tolerance	Fire Tolerant

Pollinator Value: Very High

Bloom Months	July to August
Larval Host of	Bees
Specific Pollinators Hosted	Numerous bee species
Pollinator Benefit	Insect Pollinated, Provides Nectar, Stem Nesting, Supports Generalists

Project Planning

Project Type	Boulevard, Rain Garden, Shoreline Buffer
Coefficient of Conservatism	6
Herbivore Sensitivity	Low
Lifespan	Perennial
Rate of Spread	Fast
Soil Stabilization	Shallow
Vegetative Reproduction	Clonal

Range

County	Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Rice, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Winona, Wright
Ecoregion	Driftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains
Approximate Eco Province	Eastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands