Aster is a daisy, commonly blue or purple; it means star. Asters and Morning Glories are also seen as one of the September birth flowers. Asters, in general, are also keystone species, meaning their environment would collapse without them.
The word calico, while often describing a cat, means multicolored. Calico asters do look quite different from common asters. Calico Asters are also called the side-flowering aster. Calico Asters look almost identical to daisies, except for one key difference. Instead of the yellow pollen bulb in the center, they have a dark pink one.
The calico aster is excellent for attracting pollinators. These pollinators include bees, silvery checkerspot caterpillars, and crescent moon butterflies.
Calico asters are native to the eastern side of the United States, around half of the United States. The asters rarely stray from woodland areas.
RELATED STORIES:
September Birth Flowers | Aster and Morning Glory | Petal Talk.
Aster, Calico, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum | Leaves for Wildlife).
Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)
BWSR Featured Plant: Calico Aster
