The wavy leaf aster is a herbaceous perennial in the aster family (Asteraceae) native to central and eastern North America including North Carolina. It can be found in open deciduous woods, borders, clearings, dry hammocks, sandhills, roadsides, and open-wooded bluffs. The genus name Symphyotrichum comes from Greek words meaning “to grow together” and “hair” which may be a reference to the flower anthers. The specific epithet undulatum is Latin for “wavy” which refers to the leaf appearance. This aster prefers partial shade or dappled sun, but tolerates full sun. They are easy to grow in multiple conditions and thrive in dry rocky conditions. The loose cluster of small daisy-like lavender flowers grow on 1 – 4 feet erect stems and 1 – 2 feet wide clumps. You can trim them in the summer if they grow too tall. The wavy leaf aster can spread via rhizomes or seeds. It is one of the few pollinator plants available late in the season. It provides pollen and nectar for insects in the fall. It is a host plant for several caterpillars. The wavy leaf aster is a great addition to a partial shade native or woodland garden. You can include them in a mass planting design in difficult to grow locations like rocky slopes. It is valuable in a pollinator garden because it blooms later than other plants. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : Deer occasionally cause damage. It is a host plant for many caterpillars which some may consider a problem when they eat the leaves. No significant diseases or pests. More information on Symphyotrichum .
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
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 2 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Obovate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenulate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The lower leaves have wings where they attach to the stem. The upper leaves wrap around the stem. Margins can be shallowly crenate or serrated or nearly entire. Distal leaves are smaller and sessile. The basal leaves wither after flowering. Sometimes a new winter rosette develops
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower shape
Radial; Star
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The ray flowers are lavender/blue and the tubular disk flowers in the center are blue, purple, red, pink, white or yellow. They grow close together in clumps. The taller stems may lean due to the flower weight. There are four or more flower heads per flowering stem.
Bloom time
Fall
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Cream/Tan; Purple/Lavender
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
After pollination, the seeds become dull purple, light brown, or tan. They have stiff, slender bristles and tufts of cream or rose-tinged hairs.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The green stems are erect and brittle with fine hairs or smooth or densely fine hairs. They have one or more branches spreading from it.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America
Distribution
AL , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WV Canada: NB , NS , ON , QC
Wildlife value
t provides nectar for bees and butterflies. It is a host plant for many caterpillers including the pearl crescent caterpillar, Aster flowerhead caterpillar, Aster-head phaneta moth, blackberry looper moth, sweat bees, and flower flies.