Symphyotrichum georgianum | Astereae Lab

Georgia aster

Symphyotrichum georgianum (Alexander) G.L. Nesom is native to sandy and clay soils, oak-pine woodlands, road embankments (mostly Piedmont) from northcentral Alabama to central North Carolina (Brouillet et al. 2006 FNA). The colonial species is distinguished by its short to long rhizomes, sometimes ± undulateleaves with with revolute margins, the distal leaf bases ± auriculate-clasping to subclasping, and large heads with glandular phyllaries and showy violet-purple rays (14–24 × 1.5–3.5 mm). The species is a decaploid with x=5 (2n=50).

Symphyotrichum georgianum is of conservation concern and is disjunct and rare in southwestern Georgia and Leon County, Florida.

Symphyotrichum georgianum range Semple draft

Symphyotrichum georgianum, habitat, 11674, South Carolina

Symphyotrichum geogianum SC 11674 small shoot

Symphyotrichum georgianum, 10875, Georgia

Symphyotrichum georgianum, inflorescence branch and monarch butterfly, 11674, South Carolina

Symphyotrichum georgianum, florets and skipper butterfly, 11674, South Carolina

Symphyotrichum georgianum, involucre, 11674, South Carolina

1-6. Symphyotrichum georgianum. 1-2. Habitat and small shoot, Semple 11674, Union Co., South Carolina. 3. Inflorescence, Semple 10875, Jones Co., Georgia. 4. inflorescence branch and monarch butterfly, S 11674. 5. Heads and skipper butterfly, S 11674. 6. Involucre and florets, S 11674.

Last updated 3 April 2025 by J.C. Semple