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Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromatic Aster)

Basal rosettes of Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'Raydon's Favorite' (Aromatic Aster) in March.
Compact cultivar Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'October Skies' as a ground cover at Brookside Gardens in August.
In fall, the lower stems of Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromatic Aster) turn brown and woody and their clasping leaves are soon deciduous as seen here in October.
Flower buds Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromatic Aster) are subtended by linear bracts that resemble the upper leaves in October.
Transverse banded drone fly feeds on Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromatic Aster) in October.
Common eastern bumble bee on Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromatic Aster) in October.
Composite flowers of Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromatic Aster) with 20–35 blue to purple rays surrounding yellow to amber disks that mature to red-purple in October.
A mound of Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromative Aster) in front of fruiting Winterberry at Glencarlyn Library Community Garden in October.
Compact cultivar Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'October Skies' at the Glencarlyn Library Community Garden in October.
Common buckeye butterfly on Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'Raydon's Favorite' (Aromatic Aster) in a residential garden in November.

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Symphyotrichum oblongifolium Aromatic Aster Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Dense mounds of showy Aromatic Aster flowers, among the last to bloom before hard frost, attract myriad pollinators. They grow easily in habitats1 ranging from moist woodlands to sandy prairies from New York west to Montana and south to North Carolina and New Mexico. Top- rated2 cultivars include ‘October Skies’ and ‘Raydon’s Favorite.’ Perennial Foliage, Flowers with Pollinators,3 En Masse Height: 1–3 feet Spread: 1–3 feet Bloom Color: Blue, purple, sometimes pink Characteristics Bushy, stiff-branched herbaceous perennial Alternate, clasping, scabrous (sometimes glabrous), oblong to lanceolate, aromatic (when crushed) leaves reduced as they ascend pubescent stems; lower leaves quick to fall ~1-inch, composite flowers of 14–40 rays and yellow to red disk florets bloom late Sep. until frost Ribbed cypsela with brown pappi disperse by wind Spreads by seeds and stolons or rhizomes4 Attributes Tolerates clay, sandy, rocky, and dry soils; drought; erosion; coastal elements No serious problems but watch for leaf spot, rust, powdery mildew; deer seldom severely damage Attracts numerous specialized and other bees and butterflies; larval host to ~12 lepidopterans Growing and Maintenance Tips Excellent Replacement for Soil Requirements: Average, well-drained Chrysanthemum - Mums (marginally hardy) Light Requirements: Sun Dendranthema - Hardy Garden Mums Water Requirements: Dry, Moist 1. In the Mid-Atlantic region, it is native to DC, rare in MD, and infrequent in central and southwestern parts of PA. In VA, it is infrequent to locally common in the mountains and rare in the Piedmont. In NoVA, it is not reported in Prince William County. 2. Cultivars receive 4.7 & 4.6 (out of 5) performance ratings in Mt. Cuba Center’s “Asters for the Mid-Atlantic Region.” 3. Bumble bee on compact ‘October Skies’ and American Lady butterfly on reliable, floriferous ‘Raydon’s Favorite.’ 4. Aromatic Aster colonizes by stolons according to the USDA/NRCS Plant Fact Sheet and by rhizomes according to the Flora of Virginia. 5. Learn more about Garden Cleanup for Pollinators: Trim Perennial Stems in Their First Winter. Provide good air circulation to prevent foliar disease; may need regular thinning to control spread Pinch back by half mid-June for denser plant; dead- head after flowering to prevent seeding; trim5 dead stems to 12–24” so native bees can nest in hollows Use in native, pollinator, or rock gardens, meadows Hardiness: USDA Zones 3a–8b developed by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, serving Arlington and Alexandria Images by Mary Free (foliage & butterfly), private and Sunny Gardens and by Elaine Mills, Glencarlyn Library Garden

Tried and True Native Plant Selections
 for the Mid-Atlantic

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Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aromatic Aster)

Dense mounds of showy Aromatic Aster flowers, among the last to bloom before hard frost, attract myriad pollinators. They grow easily in habitats* ranging from moist woodlands to sandy prairies from New York west to Montana and south to North Carolina and New Mexico. Top-rated cultivars include ‘October Skies’ and ‘Raydon’s Favorite.’

*In the Mid-Atlantic region, it is native to DC, rare in MD, and infrequent in central and southwestern parts of PA. In VA, it is infrequent to locally common in the mountains and rare in the Piedmont. In NoVA, it is not reported in Prince William County. You can view the VA counties in which it has been reported here.

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants: 
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets