Heart-leaf aster, Symphyotrichum cordifolium
 
Heart-leaf aster is a beautiful, hardy ecological superstar! It typically grows to 90 cm but can reach 1.50 m in moister settings. Many light blue flowers bloom for a long time during September and October, and some years well into November. Fall can be a very exciting time in a pollinator garden with an explosion of gold and purple, goldenrods and asters in concert. Scientists found that goldenrod and aster planted together attract significantly more bees than if they are planted without their counterparts. Heart-leaf aster's flowers are particularly beautiful since the gold-coloured centers become purple once pollinated.
 
Ecology:
Next year's bumblebee queens need huge amounts of late-season nectar, which provides carbohydrates for energy, and pollen, which is proteins and fats to build enough fat reserves to survive hibernation. And heart-leaf aster provides abundant amounts of both in the fall. Its pollen also supports a wide variety of pollen specialist bees in the families of cellophane bees, long-horned bees, and mining bees, among others. Monarchs fuel up on its nectar for their epic journey to Mexico. The leaves of heart-leaf aster serve as a host plant for the caterpillars of the silvery checkerspot, pearl crescent, northern crescent and tawny crescent butterflies and many moth species.  The seeds are an abundant food source for birds throughout the winter.
 
Growing conditions:
Heart-leaf aster is a very hardy plant that grows best in medium to dry soil in part shade, but will also grow in full shade and full sun.