Many years ago a college professor said that when the asters started to appear he knew Autumn was on the way. At the time, I didn't appreciate the usefulness of using flower cycles as a seasonal clock, but as I have grown to know more of such things, I too now recognize their appearance as a harbinger of Autumn.
Newcomb's Wildflower Guide (Little, Brown and Company Boston-Toronto-London 1977) says
There are about 60 species of asters in our area, of which the more representative are covered in this manual.
The guide describes 33 species of asters.
Of these species, I am fortunate to have 3 of them growing in my yard. The first to appear is the White Wood Aster Aster divaricatus in early August. Newcomb's describes it as
Basal Leaves and Lower Stem Leaves Heart- or Arrow-shaped and Long-stalked
Larger Leaves Obviously Toothed
Basal Leaves Less than 3" Wide or None
White flowers; heads 3/4 to 1" wide, in a flattish cluster; lower stem leaves heart-shaped, with coarse and sharp teeth. 1-3' high. Dry woods and clearings, s. Me. to Ohio south; common
The other 2 appear in mid to late September. The Heart-leaved Aster Aster cordifolius is described by Newcomb's as
Basal Leaves and Lower Stem Leaves Heart- or Arrow-shaped and Long-stalked
Larger Leaves Obviously Toothed
Basal Leaves Less than 3" Wide or None
Blue-violet to rose (rarely white) flowers; heads 1/2 to 5/8" wide, middle stem leaves sharply and conspicuously toothed and slender-stalked; bracts of flower heads with dark-green tips. 1-5' high. Woods and thickets; common.
The other is the New England Aster Aster novae-angliae and is described by Newcomb's as
Larger Leaves Lance-shaped or Wider (2-6 Times Longer than Wide), Obscurely Toothed or Entire, Not Both Heart-shaped and Long-stalked
Middle and Upper Leaves with a Heart-shaped Base, Which Definitely Clasps the Stem
Stem stout, bristly-hairy; 2-8' high. Flower heads 1-2" wide, with numerous (40-50) violet-purple rays (occasionally rose-colored or white). Leaves lance-shaped, clasping. Fields, damp meadows and shores.
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