Hardy Aster

Plant type: Late-blooming herbaceous perennial
Hardiness: USDA Zones 4 to 9

Valued for its daisy-like blooms in late summer to fall. Delicate petals burst out like rays from yellow eyes. Bloom color ranges from white to various shades of pink, red, purple and blue. Slightly stiff pubescent leaves are lanceolate (or narrow-leaved) to broadly linear. Plant size ranges from six to 60 inches tall and as wide, depending on species.

How to use it: In masses, as a specimen plant or in containers. Use in a mixed perennial border or naturalize. Fresh or dried cutflower.

Culture: Prefers a moist, well-drained site; some species tolerate a dry site. Many species are sensitive to wet soils. Plant in (ideal) full sun to partial shade. Benefits by being cut back in early spring and again in mid-summer (before July) to encourage branching and reblooming. Taller cultivars may require staking. Primarily propagated through division and stem cuttings, sometimes seed. May be susceptible to powdery mildew or root rot, especially in sub-tropical regions.

Special notes: Valued for its colorful, late summer and fall blooms. Attracts wildlife, including birds, bees and butterflies. Deer resistant.

Selected cultivars and species