Symphyotrichum novi-belgii hybrids

Perennial herbs with short to long rhizomes; stems erect, terete to slightly ribbed, usually with short simple hairs in lines or stripes above and glabrous below, sometimes completely glabrous, branched only above, (15)–40–150 cm tall. Mid cauline lvs elliptic, oblong, or ovate- to narrow-lanceolate, narrowed or broad at base and slightly auriculate to amplexicaul, entire, or serrulate to coarsely serrate, usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely hairy about margins, 50–100–(170) × 10–30 mm; uppermost lvs smaller, sometimes cuneate, sometimes ± triangular and broad-based. Infl. a few- to many-headed narrow panicle or ± flat-topped cyme. Capitula 25–50 mm diam.; peduncles usually with lines or stripes of simple hairs, sometimes glabrous. Involucral bracts ± equal to very unequal; inner bracts oblong- to linear-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, glabrous, with a diamond-shaped to diffuse green patch near apex and extending down midrib, also sometimes tinged purple, 5–8 mm long; outer bracts green at tip to wholly herbaceous, erect to spreading, and from 2 mm long to = inner bracts. Ray florets numerous; ligules usually violet to blue, rarely white, 7–14 mm long. Ovary with scattered antrorse hairs; mature achenes not seen.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4. as Aster novi-belgii hybrids]

Flowering: (Dec.)–Feb.–Apr.–(May)