Oct 5, 2022
Aside from New England aster, purple-stemmed aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum), also known as purplestem aster, red-stemmed aster, and swamp aster, has the largest flowerheads of any Symphyotrichum in the Central Appalachians. A lover of marshes and streambanks, this tall, rangy perennial reaches up to seven feet in height and is instantly recognizable by its deep-red, slightly hairy stems. In late summer to early fall, purple-stemmed aster produces long panicles of gorgeous, lavender-petaled flowers with bright yellow disk florets. The panicles eventually start to droop from the weight of their massed flowers, giving the plant its rangy-looking growth habit.