© Janet Wooten
© jnitzky
© Donald Smith
© Janet Wooten
Proceeds support the Rohal Scholarship, which provides a $1000 award to a graduating Glen Ridge Senior who has championed and/or directly assisted with environmental causes in school or our community.
Smooth blue aster
$25 for 5-pack of plugs
Glen Ridge has selected smooth blue aster for the 2026 Native Plant Sale Fundraiser.
Symphyotrichum laeve is a hardy, easy-to-grow plant popular in East Coast gardens from suburban yards to urban parks.
It supports late-season pollinators and serves as the host plant for over 100 species of butterflies and moths. Asters are widely recognized as a "keystone plant" playing an outsized role in sustaining New Jersey ecosystems.
Pair it with goldenrod or little bluestem for a classic autumn combination. A great choice for fans of chrysanthemums, shasta daisies, and other asters.
In the garden
1
Plugs
Plugs are baby plants
Plugs are often recommended over seeds and mature plants to give gardeners the healthiest plants for the least amount of effort
Your smooth blue aster plug will be quite small but will grow quickly once planted
2
Establishing
A native perennial plant will spend its first 1-2 years "establishing," meaning they are investing in structure and root growth.
During this time, your smooth blue aster will need to be watered
Most smooth blue asters will flower the first Fall if planted in Spring
3
Mature
Mature native plants are generally hardy and require little maintenance to thrive.
Smooth blue asters tolerate droughts better than most traditional plants, but may need water during extreme droughts.
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