Sky Blue Aster

Order: Asterales

Family: Asteraceae

Genus: Aster

Species: A. oolentangiense

Identifying Characteristics:

-This native perennial plant is 1½–3' tall, and largely unbranched except at the inflorescence

-The central stem is light green and largely hairless. Near the base of the plant, are basal leaves with long narrow petioles. These basal leaves are about 3" long and 1½" across, cordate or broadly oval, and largely hairless.

-As the leaves alternate upward along the stem, they become greatly reduced in size and more narrow.

-The inflorescence is a large panicle of compound flowers that are daisy-like in appearance; this large inflorescence has a tendency to droop over somewhat. The compound flowers are about ½" across or slightly larger. They consist of about 10-25 lavender or light blue ray florets

Special Adaptations:

-The preference is full or partial sun and mesic to dry conditions. This plant is rather indifferent to soil characteristics, and can flourish in soil that loamy, sandy, rocky, or contains clay. This plant is easy to grow and drought resistant; the lower leaves are occasionally marred by powdery mildew and other foliar Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, rocky upland woods, savannas, woodland borders, sandy meadows, limestone glades, clay banks, and areas along roadsides

- The flowers attract various insects, including small bees, flies, small to medium-sized butterflies, skippers, and wasps. Among these, Green Metallic bees and other Halictid bees are especially common visitors of the flowers, where they seek nectar or pollen.