Smooth aster combines blue-green leaves with lavender-blue flowers and yellow centres, extending colour in sunny borders as summer moves into autumn.
- Height
- 60–122 cm / 2–4 ft
- Spread
- 60–122 cm / 2–4 ft
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Dry / Moist, well-drained
- Flowering
- Fall, Summer
- Maintenance
- Low
- USDA zones
- 4a–8b
Planting
Use full sun and moderately fertile, well-drained soil, from dry to moderately moist. It works in a naturalised border, meadow or sloping bank with room for a broad clump.
Care
Expect some drought tolerance once roots are established. Leave seedheads for visiting birds where self-seeding is welcome; remove unwanted seedlings if you want to keep the original planting footprint.
Before planting: Readily self-seeds in suitable conditions.
Planting Smooth aster?
Find a landscaper nearby to help with planting and establishment.
Find a landscaperMore plants to explore
Sources & photo credit
Plant reference: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Content checked . Flowering seasons vary with local climate; USDA zones describe winter cold tolerance.
- Smooth aster: Cliff · CC BY 2.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- New England aster: Drew Avery · CC BY 2.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Spreading aster: Fritzflohrreynolds · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- 'Dilys' geranium: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.