Symphyotrichum lanceolatum ex light blue form (Panicle Aster) [20 Seeds]

Description I first noticed this aster a few years ago, when it flowered in the courtyard on the side of my house, with beautiful, light lavender-blue blooms lining the 4- to 5-foot-tall stems in September. The identity puzzled me, though: The Seek app kept saying it was Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, but I dismissed that because I’ve only ever seen that species have white flowers. But it definitely wasn’t S. laeve, or S. puniceum, or S. cordifolium: the three other blue-flowered asters that grow around here. I finally decided to do more research and found that S. lanceolatum actually can have blue flowers: turns out Seek was right! I collected and grew out some of its seed, and about half of the seedlings had the same color, with the rest being the usual white. They’re very pretty growing together, but I decided to move the whites elsewhere and keep all of the blues together. Like the species, the blue-flowered form can spread by rhizomes to form sizeable patches, so it’s best in a meadow or other area where it can expand without pushing out less vigorous perennials. Like other asters, it provides an abundance of pollen and nectar for visiting insects, and it’s charming in late-season bouquets. The species is native to much of North America; these seeds are collected from blue-flowered plants that appeared here at Hayefield, in Bucks County, PA. Full sun to light shade; average to moist soil. Zones 4 to 9. Collected in early to mid November 2025. At least 20 seeds. PA ecotype. Shipping to U.S. addresses only. Please read the germination information as well before ordering.