Georgia Native Plant Society

Georgia Native Plant Society We involve ourselves in all sorts of activities to support our mission.
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The Georgia Native Plant Society (GNPS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the stewardship and conservation of Georgia’s native plants and their habitats.

Have you seen all those small white asters on the side of the road? While they might all look alike, there are actually ...
10/13/2026

Have you seen all those small white asters on the side of the road? While they might all look alike, there are actually several different species! This one is Symphyotrichum racemosum which has the totally common name of small white aster. The flowers are quite small, the stems thin and the leaves tiny. Although the flowers are small, they are numerous and usually arranged along one side of the stem. It is perennial and small bees are very fond of it.

New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is sold in Georgia but the native range in the state is rather small. A...
10/12/2026

New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is sold in Georgia but the native range in the state is rather small. Adaptable to a bushy, compact shape, the species is a favorite of gardeners for having numerous, large flowers whose ray colors range from pink to purple. While those sold in stores are probably pinched for an even shape, the un-pinched ones in gardens still put on a great show and bees and pollinators love them just as much.

Smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) has smooth leaves (not rough like many blue asters). It has a small native rang...
10/11/2026

Smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) has smooth leaves (not rough like many blue asters). It has a small native range in NW Georgia but is often sold at native plant sales. It works well in containers where it can grow 2-3 feet tall.

Short’s aster (Symphyotrichum shortii) has a very small range in Georgia. This perennial, clumping aster seems to prefe...
10/10/2026

Short’s aster (Symphyotrichum shortii) has a very small range in Georgia. This perennial, clumping aster seems to prefer woodland areas where it grows to about 2 ½ feet tall with a branching panicle of pale blue or lavender-colored flowers. It has two different types of leaves: the lower leaves are up to six inches long and have petioles up to 1 inch. The upper leaves are smaller and nearly sessile. Flowers are medium-sized (3/4 to 1 inch) with numerous rays.

Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) is not native to Georgia but it is native in nearby states (e.g., Alabama,...
10/09/2026

Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) is not native to Georgia but it is native in nearby states (e.g., Alabama, and it is also frequently sold at native plant sales, especially cultivars like ‘Raydon’s Favorite.’ This aster has dense growth, good sized flowers, and is fairly late blooming in its range. This is a picture of ‘Raydon’s Favorite.’

Wavy-leaved aster (Symphyotrichum undulatum) is a small, part-shade aster with fairly good distribution in the state. Th...
10/08/2026

Wavy-leaved aster (Symphyotrichum undulatum) is a small, part-shade aster with fairly good distribution in the state. This one was found in a dry woods in Cobb County. The plant is 1-2 feet tall with a small panicle of flowers with pale blue to lavender-colored rays. The lower leaves have petioles that can be winged and the margins of leaves can have a slight wave.

A larger, showier and more sun-loving aster blooming now is the “late” purple aster, Symphyotrichum patens. Not sure why...
10/07/2026

A larger, showier and more sun-loving aster blooming now is the “late” purple aster, Symphyotrichum patens. Not sure why it is called “late” as it seems to bloom during the earliest wave of native asters. A smaller flower head (1 inch) and a bright yellow center of disk flowers helps to distinguish it from Georgia aster which grows in similar conditions and has similar clasping, rough leaves. Purple aster is found throughout the eastern US and is generally in the northern counties of Georgia and the northern part of the Coastal Plain. The stem is not very upright so this looks good mixed with native grasses and goldenrod in an informal garden.

Speaking of blue flowers, while its showier sibling, cardinal flower, is finishing up, downy lobelia (Lobelia puberula) ...
10/06/2026

Speaking of blue flowers, while its showier sibling, cardinal flower, is finishing up, downy lobelia (Lobelia puberula) modestly opens up gorgeous blue flowers. This perennial is every bit as attractive and dependable as its relatives (it also is related to the great blue lobelia, L. siphilitica, which blooms a full month earlier) and should be used more often in fall garden designs. It is naturally found in open meadows and woodland edges where it is enjoyed by bees and small butterflies such as skippers.

A soft blue aster is heart-leaved blue aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium). Small flowers cluster closely along the stems...
10/05/2026

A soft blue aster is heart-leaved blue aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium). Small flowers cluster closely along the stems, with numerous branches reaching up 3-4 feet tall. This aster is fine with part-shade and tolerates a range of moisture conditions. The heart-shaped leaves are most noticeable on the lower part of the plant and they are finely toothed. Native to north Georgia with scattered occurrences in the Coastal Plain as well.

Another white aster blooming now (and has been for a while), this one not in the Symphyotrichum genus. When the Asters w...
10/04/2026

Another white aster blooming now (and has been for a while), this one not in the Symphyotrichum genus. When the Asters were separated out (from the Aster genus) into new ones, this one and several others went to Eurybia. This is white wood aster (Eurybia divaricata) and it likes part-shade. Naturally found only in the northern counties of Georgia, it has soft, leafy foliage closer to the ground with stems of white flowers held above up to about 2 feet. Great perennial for shady areas and fairly drought tolerant.

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Atlanta, GA
30342

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