Heart-leaved Aster

Symphyotrichum cordifolium

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Agnorisma badinodis, Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria
S13+S15 2 verified Eastern NA
🐝 Specialist Bee Host: Andrena asteris, Andrena hirticincta, Andrena nubecula, Colletes compactus, Colletes simulans, Melissodes druriellus
S17 genus-level Symphyotrichum specialists with VT/NY/ME/NH ranges

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Secure in both Ontario (S5) and Quebec (S5), with a global rank of G5. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Common throughout the Ottawa-Gatineau region with 82 preserved specimens in the Gatineau bounding box and 19 Quebec herbarium records in CNHMT. Widespread across eastern North America from Manitoba to Nova Scotia and south to Georgia.
S22 G5/S5/S5; S26 not SARA listed; S48 82 specimens; S54 19 QC specimens
Rarity Ranks: QC S5 – Secure, ON S5 – Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Heart-leaved aster is a characteristic understory forb of mesic deciduous woodlands in the Ottawa Valley, thriving at forest edges, woodland clearings, and along streambanks. It occurs in beech-maple and oak-hickory associations, often on rocky to loamy slopes. In the Gatineau region, herbarium specimens document it in diverse settings from Hull urbanized areas to Gatineau Park forests. It forms colonies via long-creeping rhizomes and tolerates deep shade, making it a reliable component of the woodland herb layer.
S7 beech-maple, oak-hickory; S6 open wooded slopes, stream banks; S10 moist to dry deciduous woodlands; S48 Gatineau specimens; S62 Common in Ottawa

Roles: Fire Retardant, Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = High (not definitional)] | Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: spines? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]
Notes: Excellent woodland guild companion due to its juglone tolerance, shade tolerance, and late-season bloom that extends pollinator resources into October. Functions as an insectary plant and pollinator attractor in the herb layer beneath canopy and understory trees. Spreads moderately by rhizomes to fill gaps in the woodland ground layer without becoming aggressive.
S3 juglone tolerant; S64 insectary/pollinator; S11 Spread Rate=Moderate; S10 shade tolerant

Category: Hunting Medicine
S28 Moerman categories: Drug, Medicine (Ojibwa hunting charm)
Notes: The Ojibwa used the root to make a smoke or incense to attract deer close enough to shoot with a bow and arrow. This hunting charm exploits the similarity between the plant's scent and deer spoor. Moerman notes that several composites and plants from other families share this use among Ojibwa hunting practices.
S28 Moerman: Ojibwa Drug/Hunting Medicine; S61 confirms Ojibwa use

❌ Not Edible

Foraging Notes: Not used as food. Moerman records only a hunting medicine use by the Ojibwa (root burned as incense to attract deer), with no edible applications documented.
S28 Moerman 1 use, Drug/Medicine only; S11 Palatable Human=No