Asters (Aster)

Asters are a very diverse genus (Aster) and were formerly even more so, containing species now classified into other genera. Therefore, the likely geographical location depends on which *specific* “Aster” you’re referring to (or used to be considered Aster). However, speaking generally:

* **Eurasia and North America:** The Aster genus, *as it used to be more broadly defined*, had a very wide distribution across both Eurasia and North America. Many species were native to one or both of these continents.

* **North America:** Most of the “Asters” you’ll see in gardens and naturalized in many areas were originally *North American* natives. When the Aster genus was revised, many North American species were moved into other genera like *Symphyotrichum*, *Eurybia*, and others. So, if you see a typical late-blooming, daisy-like “Aster” in North America, it’s likely a native North American plant, though perhaps now classified under a different botanical name.

* **Europe and Asia:** True *Aster* species (those that remain in the *Aster* genus) are primarily found in Europe and Asia.

**In summary:**

* If you just hear “Aster,” without a species name, and you are in **North America**, you are most likely seeing a native North American plant that was formerly classified as *Aster* but is now likely in a different genus (e.g., *Symphyotrichum*).
* If you are in **Europe or Asia**, you are more likely to be seeing a true *Aster* species.

To be more specific, you’d need to specify which “Aster” you are interested in. For example, *Aster amellus* is native to Europe, while *Symphyotrichum novae-angliae* (New England Aster, formerly *Aster novae-angliae*) is native to North America.