Pacific Aster

Symphyotrichum chilense is restricted to coastal habitats from southwestern British Columbia to central California. It is almost entirely coastal in Oregon, Washington, and southern British Columbia, where it is mainly hexaploid (2n = 48). In Oregon, where it is sympatric with S. subspicatum, the latter is mainly duodecaploid (2n = 96). The distinction does not hold in British Columbia, however, where S. subspicatum is both 2n = 48 and 96, and where S. chilense is less common (G. A. Allen 1984). The species was erroneously thought by Nees to occur in Chile. The plants named Aster chilensis var. medius Jepson are hybrids of S. chilense and S. lentum.

Perennials, 40–100(–120) cm, co­lo­nial or cespitose; long-rhizom­atous. Stems 1–5+, ascending or erect, glabrous or hirsute. Leaves thin, margins entire, apices usually acute, faces glabrous or sparsely puberulent; basal withering by flowering, petiolate, blades (linear-)oblanceolate to obovate, 30–200 × 4–40 mm, bases attenuate, margins entire to finely serrate, apices acute; proximalmost cauline sometimes withering by flowering, sessile, blades broadly to narrowly oblanceolate, 40–150 × 5–30 mm, bases usually ± attenuate or cuneate; distal sessile, blades lanceolate to oblanceolate, 25–90 × 5–30 mm, bases cuneate. Heads in open, paniculiform arrays, some branches at least 20+ cm. Peduncles puberulent, bracts 3–10, lanceolate to elliptic, margins often scabrous to ciliolate. Involucres campanulate, 5–8 mm. Phyllaries in 3–5 series, oblanceolate or oblong (outer) to linear (inner), unequal to subequal (outer usually shorter than inner, if so, lengths less than 3 times widths), bases scarious (outer) less than ¹ / 2 or sometimes wholly foliaceous, inner scarious, margins eciliate or ciliolate, green zones oblanceolate to obovate or linear (innermost), apices (outer) obtuse, (inner) acute, faces glabrous or puberulent. Ray florets 15–40; corollas violet, laminae 9–15 × 1.5–2.5 mm. Disc florets 35–60+; corollas yellow, 4–8 mm, lobes triangular, 0.5–1 mm. Cypselae brown, cylindric to obovoid, not compressed, 3.5–4.5 mm, 2–4-nerved, faces hairy; pappi white to tawny , 4–8 mm. 2n = 48, 64, 96.

Aster chilensis Nees, Gen. Sp. Aster., 123. 1832; A. chilensis var. invenustus (Greene) Jepson

Symphyotrichum chilense occurs in the far western part of North America from central California, northward through Oregon, Washington and southwestern British Columbia. The species is generally restricted to coastal habitats. It does not occur in Chile.

Known by the common name of Pacific aster, this perennial can reach a height of 40 to 100 centimeters, in co­lo­nial or tufted growth form. The plant exhibits long rhizom­es and from one to five or more ascending to erect stems. The distinctive flowers exhibit violet ray florets and yellow disc florets.

Symphyotrichum chilense (formerly Aster chilensis) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names Pacific aster and common California aster. It is native to the west coast of North America from British Columbia to Southern California and the Channel Islands. It grows in many habitats, especially along the coast and in the coastal mountain ranges. Despite its scientific name, it does not occur in Chile. Pacific aster blooms from June to October with violet ray florets surrounding yellow disk florets.