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Asteraceae FAMILY

Symphyotrichum cordifolium

Symphyotrichum cordifolium

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitPerennial
Growth—

Symphyotrichum cordifolium is a plant mainly of the temperate zone, moving into the subtropics in the south of its range. It is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 12 - 24°c, but can tolerate 10 - 32°c[1]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -35°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c[1]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 600 - 1,200mm, but tolerates 500 - 1,500mm[1]. Succeeds in most good garden soils[2], preferring one that is well-drained and moisture retentive[3]. Prefers a sunny position[3]. Prefers a rich soil[2]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.7 - 7.5, tolerating 5.5 - 8[1]. Pinching back the shoot tips several times before mid-July will help control plant height, promote bushiness and perhaps obviate the need for staking[4]. Plants often self-sow when growing in a suitable position[4]. If self-sowing is a problem, then cut the stems back to grounf level soon after flowering and before the seed is formed[4]. They can be naturalized in a woodland or other wild garden[3]. The flowers are very attractive to butterflies[4]. Most species in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[5]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[3].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring in a cold frame. Do not allow the compost to become dry. Pre-chilling the seed for two weeks can improve germination rates[6]. The seed usually germinates in 2 weeks at 20°c[6]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn[3]. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Symphyotrichum+cordifolium>

Pollinators

Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self

References

  1. [1]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
  2. [2]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
  3. [3]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  4. [4]KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder — Missouri Botanical Garden · http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ ↩︎Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone.
  5. [5]Perennial Garden Plants — Thomas. G. S. · J. M. Dent & Sons, London. · 1990 · ISBN 0 460 86048 8 ↩︎A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
  6. [6]Growing from Seed. Volume 2. — Rice. G. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1988 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
  7. [7]Flora of N. America — http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ ↩︎An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
  8. [8]The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. — Coffey. T. · Facts on File. · 1993 · ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 ↩︎A nice read, lots of information on plant uses.