New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is in the Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies family (Asteraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,832 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Nationally it blooms mainly from September to October, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph New England aster: observations by month (U.S.)
About New England aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (formerly Aster novae-angliae), the New England aster, hairy Michaelmas-daisy, or Michaelmas daisy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant native to eastern North America, and has been introduced to Europe. The seeds and nectar of this fall-flowering species are important to a wide variety of animals. Numerous cultivars have been developed and the species is a popular garden plant, especially in Europe.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
New England aster by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 711 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Vermont | 647 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Ohio | 457 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Minnesota | 397 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Illinois | 355 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 324 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 323 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 227 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Michigan | 218 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Maine | 217 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Indiana | 168 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Kentucky | 129 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Iowa | 123 | September | Sep–Oct |
| New Jersey | 114 | September | Sep–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 67 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Connecticut | 65 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Virginia | 54 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Maryland | 43 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Missouri | 42 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Mississippi | 30 | October | Oct–Oct |
| West Virginia | 25 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Tennessee | 18 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 15 | September | Sep–Sep |
| North Carolina | 11 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Kansas | 9 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Alabama | 8 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Nebraska | 6 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Delaware | 5 | September | Sep–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Georgia | 5 | June | Jun–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Sunflowers, Daisies, Asters, and Allies)
black-eyed Susan
Common Yarrow
White Snakeroot
Chicory
Lawn daisy
Philadelphia fleabane
Pearly Everlasting
Blue Mistflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph New England aster?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from September to October.
Where is New England aster most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Vermont, Ohio.