Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromatic Aster)
$8.00
Out of stock
Size: 1-3’ tall / 1-3’ wide
Sun: Full Sun
Soil: Average, Well-Drained
Bloom Time: Late Summer - Fall
Deer Resistance: 4.5/5
No fall garden is complete without at least one kind of aster, and if I had to select only one species, this would be it. Aromatic Asters have a bushy form and produce an abundance of lavender flowers in the late fall, creating a swath of purple that radiates with the hum of pollinators. It is also tough, handling dry, sunny spots well. During prolonged droughts, some of the lower leaves my dry out, but that won't set it back much. The "aromatic" in the name refers to the smell of the leaves when crushed, not the flowers. This plant will readily reseed, so I'd recommend planting it in a larger space where that is desired.
Asters as a whole attract many pollinators and serve as an important food source before winter. They also serve as larval host plants for 12 known species of moths and caterpillars, including several specialists. Deer and rabbits will typically avoid Aromatic Aster, but this may not be the case when food is scarce.