Symphyotrichum prenanthoides

Among the low herbs of the autumn woods, a plant with delicate flowerheads grows, and with the subtle blue of its petal-like rays, hints of sweetness to be found in the forest shade. Attesting to the truth of crooked-stemmed aster’s message are the many small, winged creatures who buzz and flutter about its flowerheads while collecting nectar and pollen. These pollinating visitors range in size from flies to butterflies, and include a number of specialist bees who require pollen from asters and goldenrods to feed their larvae. Most of these specialist bees are autumnal mining bees who nest underground and are most active in late summer and autumn.

Among the many other bee visitors to crooked-stemmed aster are the stem-nesting small carpenter bees. These bees seek out broken or cut stems and construct a series of nest cells within the stem. In a garden setting, one can help support the full life cycle of small carpenter bees by growing forage plants like crooked-stemmed aster and also by cutting old plant stems to a height of about 18” in March.

A NE Ohio native of woodland edges and wet woods, crooked-stemmed aster grows well in moderately wet to average soils, under full to partial sunlight. Attaining a mature height of 1-3’, the plant may spread via rhizomes to form a small colony, and it will produce its lovely lavender flowers each year in the late summer to early autumn period.

References: 1,2,3,4,5,6.

Photo by Julie Slater.