Clasping Aster

Symphyotrichum patens is a member of the Asteraceae family and is commonly referred to as Clasping Aster. It is a perennial herbaceous plant that is native to the eastern United States and has also been recorded in Germany. The species is distributed across multiple states, including Vermont, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, and New Hampshire. The plant was formally described in 1995 by G.L. Nesom, based on earlier work by Aiton. It is also known by the common name Late Purple Aster or Spreading Aster.