Neon Flash Spiraea vs Smooth Aster - TreeTime.ca

Neon Flash Spiraea vs Smooth Aster

Spiraea japonica Neon Flash

Symphyotrichum laeve

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Neon Flash Spiraea
Smooth Aster

Neon Flash Spiraea is a colorful, low maintenance, and multi-purpose shrub.

Late spring to fall you'll be drawn to its vibrant neon red blooms that rest on a neat mound of green foliage. If deer and rabbit are an issue on your property, consider planting Neon Flash Spiraea for its deer/rabbit resistance. Its tolerance of a variety of well-drained soils makes it an ideal foundation, landscaping, or border plant.

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.

Neon Flash Spiraea Quick Facts

Smooth Aster Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: burgundy bronze
Flowers: pale to bright pink
Flowers: purplish-blue; daisy-like
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: very fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: low
Suckering: none




Other Names: glaucous aster, smooth blue aster