114 Species in Genus Symphyotrichum

A Deep Dive into the World of Symphyotrichum

As a plant enthusiast, I’m always eager to learn about new and fascinating genera. Recently, I’ve become captivated by the diverse and beautiful world of Symphyotrichum, a genus of flowering plants in the Asteraceae family. Commonly known as American asters, these vibrant perennials are a staple in gardens across North America and beyond. Join me as I delve into the intriguing characteristics, diverse species, and captivating history of this remarkable genus.

What Makes Symphyotrichum Unique?

Symphyotrichum plants are herbaceous, meaning they lack woody stems. They typically feature daisy-like flowers with a central disc surrounded by colorful ray florets. The flower heads come in a stunning array of hues, including blues, purples, pinks, and whites. These vibrant blooms attract a variety of pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and moths, making them an essential part of the ecosystem.

One of the defining characteristics of Symphyotrichum is its involucre, a series of bracts that enclose the flower head. These bracts are often green and leafy, providing a striking contrast to the vibrant petals. The leaves of Symphyotrichum plants are typically simple and alternate, varying in shape and size depending on the species.

A Diverse Genus

The genus Symphyotrichum boasts over 100 species, each with its own unique characteristics and distribution:

  1. Symphyotrichum adnatum (Nutt.) G.L.Nesom
  2. Symphyotrichum anomalum (Engelm.) G.L.Nesom
  3. Symphyotrichum anticostense (Fernald) G.L.Nesom
  4. Symphyotrichum ascendens (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom
  5. Symphyotrichum bahamense (Britton) G.L.Nesom
  6. Symphyotrichum × batesii (Rydb.) G.L.Nesom
  7. Symphyotrichum bimater (Standl. & Steyerm.) G.L.Nesom
  8. Symphyotrichum boreale (Torr. & A.Gray) Á.Löve & D.Löve
  9. Symphyotrichum bracteolatum (Nutt.) G.L.Nesom
  10. Symphyotrichum bullatum (Klatt) G.L.Nesom
  11. Symphyotrichum burgessii (Britton) G.L.Nesom
  12. Symphyotrichum campestre (Nutt.) G.L.Nesom
  13. Symphyotrichum carnerosanum (S.Watson) G.L.Nesom
  14. Symphyotrichum chapmanii (Torr. & A.Gray) Semple & Brouillet
  15. Symphyotrichum chihuahuense G.L.Nesom
  16. Symphyotrichum chilense (Nees) G.L.Nesom
  17. Symphyotrichum ciliatum (Ledeb.) G.L.Nesom
  18. Symphyotrichum ciliolatum (Lindl.) Á.Löve & D.Löve
  19. Symphyotrichum × columbianum (Piper) G.L.Nesom
  20. Symphyotrichum concolor (L.) G.L.Nesom
  21. Symphyotrichum cordifolium (L.) G.L.Nesom Plant FAQs: Symphyotrichum Cordifolium – Heartleaf Aster
  22. Symphyotrichum defoliatum (Parish) G.L.Nesom
  23. Symphyotrichum depauperatum (Fernald) G.L.Nesom
  24. Symphyotrichum divaricatum (Nutt.) G.L.Nesom
  25. Symphyotrichum drummondii (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom
  26. Symphyotrichum dumosum (L.) G.L.Nesom
  27. Symphyotrichum elliottii (Torr. & A.Gray) G.L.Nesom
  28. Symphyotrichum ericoides (L.) G.L.Nesom Plant FAQs: Symphyotrichum Ericoides – White Heath Aster
  29. Symphyotrichum estesii Semple
  30. Symphyotrichum eulae (Shinners) G.L.Nesom
  31. Symphyotrichum expansum (Poepp. ex Spreng.) G.L.Nesom
  32. Symphyotrichum falcatum (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom
  33. Symphyotrichum fendleri (A.Gray) G.L.Nesom
  34. Symphyotrichum × finkii (Rydb.) G.L.Nesom
  35. Symphyotrichum firmum (Nees) G.L.Nesom
  36. Symphyotrichum foliaceum (Lindl. ex DC.) G.L.Nesom
  37. Symphyotrichum fontinale (Alexander) G.L.Nesom
  38. Symphyotrichum frondosum (Nutt.) G.L.Nesom
  39. Symphyotrichum georgianum (Alexander ex Small) G.L.Nesom
  40. Symphyotrichum glabrifolium (DC.) G.L.Nesom
  41. Symphyotrichum graminifolium (Spreng.) G.L.Nesom
  42. Symphyotrichum grandiflorum (L.) G.L.Nesom
  43. Symphyotrichum × gravesii (E.S.Burgess) G.L.Nesom
  44. Symphyotrichum greatae (Parish) G.L.Nesom
  45. Symphyotrichum hallii (A.Gray) G.L.Nesom
  46. Symphyotrichum hendersonii (Fernald) G.L.Nesom
  47. Symphyotrichum hintonii (G.L.Nesom) G.L.Nesom
  48. Symphyotrichum jessicae (Piper) G.L.Nesom
  49. Symphyotrichum kentuckiense (Britton) Medley
  50. Symphyotrichum laeve (L.) Á.Löve & D.Löve Plant FAQs: Symphyotrichum Laeve – Smooth Aster
  51. Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (Willd.) G.L.Nesom Plant FAQs: Symphyotrichum Lanceolatum – White Panicled Aster
  52. Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (L.) Á.Löve & D.Löve Plant FAQs: Symphyotrichum Lateriflorum – Side Flowering Aster – Calico Aster
  53. Symphyotrichum laurentianum (Fernald) G.L.Nesom
  54. Symphyotrichum lentum (Greene) G.L.Nesom
  55. Symphyotrichum leonis (Britton) G.L.Nesom
  56. Symphyotrichum × longulum (E.Sheld.) G.L.Nesom
  57. Symphyotrichum lucayanum (Britton) G.L.Nesom
  58. Symphyotrichum martii (Baker) G.L.Nesom
  59. Symphyotrichum molle (Rydb.) G.L.Nesom
  60. Symphyotrichum moranense (Kunth) G.L.Nesom
  61. Symphyotrichum nahanniense (Cody) Semple
  62. Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (L.) G.L.Nesom Plant FAQs: New England Aster – Symphyotrichum Novae-Angliae
  63. Symphyotrichum novi-belgii (L.) G.L.Nesom
  64. Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Nutt.) G.L.Nesom
  65. Symphyotrichum ontarionis (Wiegand) G.L.Nesom
  66. Symphyotrichum oolentangiense (Riddell) G.L.Nesom
  67. Symphyotrichum × parisinum (Poit.) Malécot & Mabb.
  68. Symphyotrichum parviceps (E.S.Burgess) G.L.Nesom
  69. Symphyotrichum patagonicum (Cabrera) G.L.Nesom
  70. Symphyotrichum patens (Aiton) G.L.Nesom
  71. Symphyotrichum peteroanum (Phil.) G.L.Nesom
  72. Symphyotrichum phlogifolium (Muhl. ex Willd.) G.L.Nesom
  73. Symphyotrichum pilosum (Willd.) G.L.Nesom Plant FAQs: Symphyotrichum Pilosum – Hairy Aster
  74. Symphyotrichum plumosum (Small) Semple
  75. Symphyotrichum porteri (A.Gray) G.L.Nesom
  76. Symphyotrichum potosinum (A.Gray) G.L.Nesom
  77. Symphyotrichum praealtum (Poir.) G.L.Nesom
  78. Symphyotrichum pratense (Raf.) G.L.Nesom
  79. Symphyotrichum prenanthoides (Muhl. ex Willd.) G.L.Nesom
  80. Symphyotrichum × priceae (Britton) G.L.Nesom
  81. Symphyotrichum puniceum (L.) Á.Löve & D.Löve
  82. Symphyotrichum purpurascens (Sch.Bip.) G.L.Nesom
  83. Symphyotrichum pygmaeum (Lindl.) Brouillet & Selliah
  84. Symphyotrichum racemosum (Elliott) G.L.Nesom
  85. Symphyotrichum regnellii (Baker) G.L.Nesom
  86. Symphyotrichum retroflexum (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom
  87. Symphyotrichum rhiannon Weakley & Govus
  88. Symphyotrichum robynsianum (J.Rousseau) Brouillet & Labrecque
  89. Symphyotrichum × salignum (Willd.) G.L.Nesom
  90. Symphyotrichum × saramooreae A.Haines
  91. Symphyotrichum schaffneri (S.D.Sundb. & A.G.Jones) G.L.Nesom
  92. Symphyotrichum × schistosum (E.S.Steele) G.L.Nesom
  93. Symphyotrichum sericeum (Vent.) G.L.Nesom
  94. Symphyotrichum shortii (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom Plant FAQs: Symphyotrichum Shortii
  95. Symphyotrichum simmondsii (Small) G.L.Nesom
  96. Symphyotrichum spathulatum (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom
  97. Symphyotrichum squamatum (Spreng.) G.L.Nesom
  98. Symphyotrichum × subgeminatum (Fernald) G.L.Nesom
  99. Symphyotrichum subspicatum (Nees) G.L.Nesom
  100. Symphyotrichum subulatum (Michx.) G.L.Nesom
  101. Symphyotrichum × tardiflorum (L.) Greuter, M.V.Agab. & Wagenitz
  102. Symphyotrichum tenuifolium (L.) G.L.Nesom
  103. Symphyotrichum tradescanti (L.) G.L.Nesom
  104. Symphyotrichum trilineatum (Sch.Bip. ex Klatt) G.L.Nesom
  105. Symphyotrichum turbinellum (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom
  106. Symphyotrichum turneri (S.D.Sundb. & A.G.Jones) G.L.Nesom
  107. Symphyotrichum undulatum (L.) G.L.Nesom
  108. Symphyotrichum urophyllum (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom
  109. Symphyotrichum vahlii (Gaudich.) G.L.Nesom
  110. Symphyotrichum × versicolor (Willd.) G.L.Nesom
  111. Symphyotrichum walteri (Alexander ex Small) G.L.Nesom
  112. Symphyotrichum welshii (Cronquist) G.L.Nesom
  113. Symphyotrichum × woldenii (Rydb.) G.L.Nesom
  114. Symphyotrichum yukonense (Cronquist) G.L.Nesom

A History of Classification

The genus Symphyotrichum has a fascinating taxonomic history. Initially, many of its species were classified under the genus Aster. However, in the early 19th century, botanists began to recognize distinct differences between the Eurasian and North American asters. This led to the establishment of the genus Symphyotrichum in 1833 by German botanist Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck.

The reclassification of these plants has helped to better understand their evolutionary relationships and unique characteristics. It also highlights the importance of ongoing research and observation in the field of botany.

Cultivating Symphyotrichum

Symphyotrichum plants are relatively easy to cultivate, making them a popular choice for gardeners of all levels. They thrive in full sun to partial shade and prefer well-drained soil. Most species are hardy in USDA zones 4-8, tolerating a range of temperatures and conditions.

To ensure healthy growth, water your Symphyotrichum plants regularly, especially during dry periods. Deadheading spent flowers can encourage further blooming and maintain a tidy appearance. Dividing clumps every few years can help to maintain plant vigor and prevent overcrowding.

The Beauty of American Asters

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, Symphyotrichum plants offer a wealth of beauty and diversity. Their vibrant flowers, adaptability, and ecological importance make them a valuable addition to any landscape. So, why not consider adding some American asters to your garden and enjoy their captivating blooms for years to come?

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