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Aster cordifolius

Common name:	Common Blue Wood Aster	Family:	Compositae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	200, 235
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to Ontario, Minnesota, Georgia and Missouri.
Habitat:	Woods and thickets[235].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	A. cordifolius ssp. sagittifolius[B] A. cordifolius var. furbishiae[B] A. cordifolius var. incisus[B] A. cordifolius var. lanceolatus[B] A. cordifolius var. moratus[B] A. cordifolius var. polycephalus[B] A. cordifolius var. racemiflorus[B] A. cordifolius var. sagittifolius[B] A. coridifolius[B,P] A. dumosus[B] A. dumosus var. coridifolius[B,P] A. dumosus var. dumosus[P] A. dumosus var. gracilentus[B,P] A. finkii var. moratus[B] A. lowrieanus var. incisus[B] A. lowrieanus var. lanceolatus[B] A. pinifolius[P] A. plumarius[B] A. sagittifolius[B] Symphyotrichum cordifolium[B] Symphyotrichum cordifolium var. furbishiae[B] Symphyotrichum cordifolium var. lanceolatum[B] Symphyotrichum cordifolium var. moratum[B] Symphyotrichum cordifolium var. polycephalum[B] Symphyotrichum cordifolium var. racemiflorum[B] Symphyotrichum dumosum[P] Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum[B] Symphyotrichum sagittifolium[B]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Common Blue Wood Aster [P], Rice Button Aster [P],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	cordifolius = heart shaped leaves
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Asterales. Renamed to Asteraceae -- Aster family

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 1.5m by 1m . It is hardy to zone 3. It is in flower from September to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles and Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade.

Edible Uses

Leaves.

Leaves - cooked and used as greens[207].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antirheumatic Aromatic Nervine.

An infusion of the plant is used as an aromatic nervine and also in the treatment of rheumatism[207].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most good garden soils[1], preferring one that is well-drained and moisture retentive[200]. Prefers a sunny position[200]. Prefers a rich soil[1].
Plants can be naturalized in a woodland or other wild garden[200].
Most species in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring in a cold frame. Do not allow the compost to become dry. Pre-chilling the seed for two weeks can improve germination rates[134]. The seed usually germinates in 2 weeks at 20° c[134]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring or autumn[200].
Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Cultivars

'': There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Aster dumosus var. dumosus (a possible synonym).

[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.

References for Symphyotrichum cordifolium (a possible synonym).

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

References for Symphyotrichum dumosum var. dumosum (a possible synonym).

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[134] Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[207] Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6
A nice read, lots of information on plant uses.

[233] Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.

[235] Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970 ISBN 0-486-22642-5
Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
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