Rosy Lights Rhododendron (Azalea) vs Smooth Aster - TreeTime.ca

Rosy Lights Rhododendron (Azalea) vs Smooth Aster

Rhododendron x Rosy Lights

Symphyotrichum laeve

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Rosy Lights Rhododendron (Azalea)
Smooth Aster

Rosy Lights Rhododendron is the next flowering, deciduous shrub you need in your garden. It is incredibly cold hardy and produces fragrant, bright pink blooms in late spring. Pruning is recommended after the flowers are finished to control the size and shape of this shrub.

Try Rosy Lights Rhododendron when planning your next hedge/screen, or plant it on its own as a striking accent plant. Part of the Northern Lights Series.

Smooth Aster is a native perennial wildflower known for its violet-blue, daisy-like flowers. They bloom later in the season, from late summer to early fall. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. It also serves as a host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis) and Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) butterflies, further enhancing its ecological value. This easy-to-grow wildflower is well suited for native wildflower gardens, pollinator gardens, and naturalization projects.

The Smooth Aster’s non-aggressive root system allows it to spread slowly, and it is more likely to reproduce by seed, which can be controlled through deadheading. As a perennial, it dies back to the crown each winter, it will regrow from the base in the spring. Avoid disturbing the crown during late winter to ensure healthy growth the following season.

Rosy Lights Rhododendron (Azalea) Quick Facts

Smooth Aster Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 3a
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: Maroon
Flowers: large, pink
Flowers: purplish-blue; daisy-like
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Maintenance: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: none



Toxicity: All parts of a rhododendron bush, including the leaves, stems and blooms, are toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.

Other Names: glaucous aster, smooth blue aster