About Symphyotrichum shortii (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom
Symphyotrichum shortii (Lindl.) G.L.Nesom is a perennial herbaceous plant that can reach up to 110 centimeters (3.5 feet) in height. It produces flower heads with purple ray florets that bloom in late summer and fall. Unlike many other related Symphyotrichum species, the stem leaves of this plant are mostly smooth-edged (entire) and do not have winged petioles. It looks similar to the related species Symphyotrichum oolentangiense, which grows further west, but S. shortii can be told apart by its heart-shaped (cordate) stem leaves and hairy (pubescent) phyllaries. Symphyotrichum shortii is native to North America, and it occurs mainly in interior regions east of the Mississippi River. Its natural habitat is thin rocky soils in woodlands and thickets, often found around limestone bluffs. It is common across most of its range, but it is typically limited to undisturbed intact natural communities.
