big-leaf aster ‘Twilight’

Eurybia macrophylla ‘Twilight’ (big-leaf aster ‘Twilight’) is an aster noted for their large basal leaves.

It is sometimes planted in wooded areas more for its foliage effect than for its fall flowering which is sometimes sparse. It has heart-shaped, rough, sharply-toothed, leaves that are 4-8″ wide. Stems are purplish. The blooms are flat-topped clusters of flowers with violet to pale blue rays and yellow centers bloom on sticky, glandular flowers stalks in August and September. The tender, young leaves of the straight species, Eurybia macrophylla, may be cooked and eaten as greens. This was done by the Algonquin people, while the Ojibwe tribe bathe their heads as an infusion of this plant to treat headaches. They also smoke it as a hunting charm to attract deer.