'Avondale' is a hybrid of the native blue wood aster in the Asteraceae family and is a prolific bloomer. The plant can tolerate full sun to shade, is pH adaptable and does best in dry to moist, well-drained soils. It is drought-tolerant once established. In shadier locations, it has a more open, arching form, while in more sun it grows erect and reaches 2 to 3 feet tall. In early to mid-fall, it is covered in small flowers with light blue rays that surround the yellow center disc florets. They are very attractive to bees and butterflies and mix well with other fall bloomers. Use Avondale blue wood aster in the border or in groups in the pollinator, cottage or woodland garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Some susceptibility to powdery mildew, leaf spots, or rust. Aster wilt can also be an occasional problem if plants are grown in poorly-drained clay soils. Good air circulation helps reduce the incidence of foliar diseases. Taller plants may require staking or other support. More information on Symphyotrichum cordifolium .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Lower leaves are up to 5” long and 3 inches wide and are heart-shaped with coarse teeth. Upper leaves are smaller with an ovate shape and more rounded base.
Flower color
Blue; Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
1/2 inch flowers have light blue rays surrounding the yellow disc florets in dense clusters in early to mid-fall.
Bloom time
Fall
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Seeds have tufts of light brown to pinkish hair to carry them off in the wind.