Symphyotrichum turbinellum Lindl.

RHS Plant Profile
smooth violet prairie aster

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Other common names

mauve-flowered starwort

Synonyms

Aster turbinellus Lindl.

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
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A compact, deciduous herbaceous perennial to around 120cm with narrow green foliage and open, daisy-like purple flowers with yellow centres appearing from summer through to autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
1-1.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Clump forming
Genus
Symphyotrichum includes around 90 species of annuals, biennials and perennials, mostly spread through the Americas, that were formerly included within the genus Aster. Leaves are simple, lance-shaped and entire, but it is their daisy-like flowerheads that they are grown for; central disc florets are typically yellow, surrounded by strap-shaped ray florets in shades of pink, blue, purple or white
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
EC USA

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive soil, in full sun or partial shade; mulch every year after cutting down in late autumn. Divide every third year to retain vigour and flower quality

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring, replanting only vigorous young shoots

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Prairie planting
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut stems close to the ground in late autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, leaf and bud eelworms, slugs, snails and tarsonemid mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to Fusarium wilt, grey moulds, leaf spot but good resistance to powdery mildews