How much sun does Saltmarsh aster need?

Saltmarsh aster grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Saltmarsh aster bloom?

Saltmarsh aster blooms in August, September, and October.

Where is Saltmarsh aster native?

Saltmarsh aster (Symphyotrichum tenuifolium) is native to AL, CT, DE, FL and 14 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What butterflies or moths does Saltmarsh aster host?

Saltmarsh aster is a larval host plant for pearl crescent.

Saltmarsh aster

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Symphyotrichum tenuifolium

Last reviewed: October 2026

Saltmarsh aster (Symphyotrichum tenuifolium) is a perennial forb native to AL, CT, DE, FL and 14 more states. It blooms in August, September, and October. The flowers draw bees and butterflies.

Toxicity unknown

Saltmarsh aster (Symphyotrichum tenuifolium) 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.

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

12"–36" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Aug, Sep, Oct

Native to

AL, CT, DE, FL and 14 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Before you buy

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 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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An upright perennial with narrow, somewhat fleshy leaves and loose sprays of lavender-purple, daisy-like flowers in fall. Grows in salt marshes and brackish wet meadows, tolerant of periodic tidal flooding.

Growing Saltmarsh aster

Grow Saltmarsh aster in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Host plant for pearl crescent.

The fall flowers are an important late-season nectar source for migrating butterflies and bees, and the foliage hosts pearl crescent caterpillars.

Common questions

How much sun does Saltmarsh aster need?: Saltmarsh aster grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Saltmarsh aster bloom?: Saltmarsh aster blooms in August, September, and October.
Where is Saltmarsh aster native?: Saltmarsh aster (Symphyotrichum tenuifolium) is native to AL, CT, DE, FL and 14 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What butterflies or moths does Saltmarsh aster host?: Saltmarsh aster is a larval host plant for pearl crescent.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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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