When does Symphyotrichum lanceolatum bloom?

It typically flowers from August through October, producing clusters of small white to pale lavender daisy-like blooms with yellow centers.

What growing conditions does this plant need?

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum grows best in full sun to part sun and prefers medium to consistently moist soil, making it a good fit for meadows, ditches, and low-lying garden areas.

What insects are attracted to this plant?

Bees, butterflies, and beetles regularly visit the flowers for nectar and pollen, especially during the late-season bloom period when fewer other plants are flowering.

Is this plant a shrub or a perennial flower?

It is an herbaceous forb, not a woody shrub. The above-ground growth dies back each year and the plant regrows from its root system in spring.

Is Michaelmas Daisy toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Michaelmas Daisy as toxic to livestock.

Is Michaelmas Daisy HOA-friendly?

Michaelmas Daisy takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Michaelmas Daisy

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum

Last reviewed: August 2026

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, sometimes called Michaelmas daisy, is a forb that blooms August through October with small white to pale lavender flowers. It grows best in full sun with medium to consistently moist soil.

Toxicity unknown

Michaelmas Daisy (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Michaelmas Daisy as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

24"–60" H × 18"–36" W

Bloom

Aug, Sep, Oct

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 43 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

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Michaelmas daisy is a tall native aster that produces masses of small white or pale purple flowers in late summer and fall. This perennial spreads gradually to form colonies and can reach 5 feet tall in optimal conditions. The narrow leaves and upright growth habit create a somewhat informal appearance in the garden.

Growing Michaelmas Daisy

Grow Michaelmas Daisy in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 24 to 60 inches tall and spread 18 to 36 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Michaelmas Daisy takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Can appear weedy and unkempt
Tall height may violate landscaping ordinances
Spreads aggressively and may look untidy

Wildlife value

Host plant for pearl crescent butterfly, painted lady butterfly.

This plant is excellent for late-season pollinators when few other flowers are available, attracting bees, butterflies, and beneficial beetles. It serves as a host plant for some butterfly caterpillars and provides seeds for birds in fall and winter.

Common questions

When does Symphyotrichum lanceolatum bloom?: It typically flowers from August through October, producing clusters of small white to pale lavender daisy-like blooms with yellow centers.
What growing conditions does this plant need?: Symphyotrichum lanceolatum grows best in full sun to part sun and prefers medium to consistently moist soil, making it a good fit for meadows, ditches, and low-lying garden areas.
What insects are attracted to this plant?: Bees, butterflies, and beetles regularly visit the flowers for nectar and pollen, especially during the late-season bloom period when fewer other plants are flowering.
Is this plant a shrub or a perennial flower?: It is an herbaceous forb, not a woody shrub. The above-ground growth dies back each year and the plant regrows from its root system in spring.
Is Michaelmas Daisy toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Michaelmas Daisy as toxic to livestock.
Is Michaelmas Daisy HOA-friendly?: Michaelmas Daisy takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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