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Native Plant Society of Texas

Willowleaf Aster

Symphyotrichum praealtum

Other common name(s):

Tall Aster, Willow-leaf American-aster

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

2
to
6
ft.

Spread

.25
to
.5
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Loam, Moist, Sand

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Riparian, Savanna, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Blue, Purple, Violet, White

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Deer, Moths, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Give room to grow: the plant spreads by rhizomes and forms colonies. Leaves may show some yellowing and the formation of black spots, mostly on the older ones near the base of the plant. Some standing water is tolerated if it is temporary. Native habitat: wet prairies, meadows, lake and stream shores, oak savannas, open woods, fields, recent clearings.

Description

Blooms August-November. The larger stems are reddish, with lines of white hairs. Roots are tubers. Leaves are lance shaped, with smooth margins, whitish green below, becoming smaller toward the top of the plant. The inflorescence is pyramidal shaped, containing numerous daisy-like composite flowers. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus. Wild Turkeys especially like to eat foliage and seed. Larval host: Silvery Checkerspot and Pearl Crescent butterflies.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Aster praealtus

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification 30 Days Cold Stratification increases germination. Seeds are small and requires light to germinate. Surface sow and bottom water. Willowleaf aster should be propagated in early spring, particularly through sowing seeds. Ideal conditions include temperatures between 65-75°F and ample sunlight. Springtime offers optimal soil moisture and increasing daylight, which supports strong root development and vigorous growth. Once the seedlings have developed a few sets of true leaves and are strong enough to handle, carefully transplant them into individual pots or directly into the garden space, ensuring proper spacing for growth. Harvest mature seeds from dried flower heads of willowleaf aster. Gently shake or tap the flower heads to collect seeds on a clean surface. 1) https://www.fellabees.com/shop/p/iey7qnrv7w75xf6a1k0etlc6df6my1 2) https://www.prairiemoon.com/symphyotrichum-praealtum-willow-aster#panel-planting 3) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Symphyotrichum_praealtum.html

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason