{"product_id":"symphyotrichum-lateriflorum-calico-aster","title":"Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (Calico Aster)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA genuinely exceptional ecological anchor even among asters, calico aster is documented as a host plant for 112 species of Lepidoptera larvae, including the specialist aster flowerhead moth, aster-head phaneta, and Hoffman's cochlid moths alongside the Silvery Checkerspot and Pearl Crescent butterflies - and it serves as a critical fall food source for over 100 species of bees, flies, wasps, moths, butterflies, and beetles.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSymphyotrichum lateriflorum, commonly called calico or side-flowering aster, is a bushy perennial wildflower native to the eastern half of North America, growing 2 to 4 feet tall with horizontally spreading branches. Small white flowerheads with disk centers that shift from yellow to deep red or purple with age - giving individual clusters a multicolored, \"calico\" appearance - bloom prolifically from late summer into fall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApplication\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExceptional larval host habitat - 112 documented Lepidoptera species\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCritical fall food source for 100+ bee, fly, wasp, moth, butterfly, and beetle species\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShady woodland, rain garden, and pollinator plantings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonarch and bumble bee queen fall fueling habitat ahead of migration\/hibernation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Conditions \/ Specification Data\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Part Shade (tolerates full sun with consistently moist soil)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\/Moisture Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moist to dry, well-drained soils, including clay; tolerates occasional flooding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlood Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate - A shade-tolerant aster rated FAC-leaning on wetland indicator status per earlier work, consistent with a wetland-adjacent habitat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Forb\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2-4 ft.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Insignificant\/None\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Color \/ Period:\u003c\/strong\u003e White; September-November\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWetland Indicator Status:\u003c\/strong\u003e FAC (Facultative)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Northeast\/Mid-Atlantic (full list)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHydrology:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mesic-Moist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoot Depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shallow (Under 12 in.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rapid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Some\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShade Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tolerant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spreading - rhizomatous\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Hardiness Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3-8\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollinator Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Larval host, supports bees, supports specialist\/oligolectic bees, supports butterflies, supports moths\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Guidance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eSpreads by self-seeding and roots to form clumps and large colonies; pinching back stem tips in early summer promotes a bushier, more compact form.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Pinelands Nursery","offers":[{"title":"50 Cell 2\" Plug","offer_id":48941155778631,"sku":"SYM-LAT 50CELL","price":82.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0675\/1649\/7991\/files\/Symphyotrichumlateriflorum.jpg?v=1790698849","url":"https:\/\/www.pinelandsnursery.com\/products\/symphyotrichum-lateriflorum-calico-aster","provider":"Pinelands Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}