Ontario Wildflowers website

Bog Aster
Oclemena nemoralis
(formerly Aster nemoralis)

Bog Aster (Oclemena nemoralis) Other common names: Wood Aster

Other scientific names: Aster nemoralis, Eucephalus nemoralis, Galatella nemoralis

French names: Aster de bois

Family: Composite Family (Asteraceae)

Group: Asters

Distinctive features: Small plant. Grows in bogs. Leaves are small, stiff, and have inrolled margins.

Similar species:
  •   Rush Aster (Symphyotrichum boreale) - Also grows in bogs.

  •   Purple-stemmed Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum) - Also grows in wet areas.


Flowers: Summer, Autumn;  Blue/Violet;  7 or more parts (petals);  Usually a large (2.5-4cm in diameter) single flower at the top of the stem. Possibly up to three flowers per plant - other flowers are each on their own slender stalk. Ray flowers: 15-25, light violet-purple, pale to deep pink. Disc flowers: 20-35, yellow becoming purple. Floral bracts narrow, purple-tinged.

Leaves: Alternate, Simple, Entire;  Small, very numerous, decreasing in size up the stem, toothless, tapered at both ends.

Height: 20-70 cm (7-27 in)

Habitat: Wet Areas, Bogs and Fens;  Wet areas, bogs. In the region north of Barrie & south of North Bay, and north of Sault Ste. Marie.

Grows in Sun/Shade: Sun

Lifespan: Perennial.  

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 460   

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Not common in Ontario.

Notes: This Aster is not very common in Ontario. All the photos on this page are of specimens in Newfoundland.

Photographs: 124 photographs available, of which 3 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Bog Aster (Oclemena nemoralis)

This Aster grows in bogs. It's a small plant. Note my finger in the left part of the photo - this shows how small this species is.

Bog Aster (Oclemena nemoralis)

A closer view of a Bog Aster flower. There's usually only between one and three flowers on a plant.

Bog Aster (Oclemena nemoralis)

These photos were taken in Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland, in late July. In Ontario this species is found in the general area north of Barrie to south of North Bay, and north of Sault Ste. Marie.


Range map for Bog Aster (Oclemena nemoralis)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)