New England aster forms tall, bushy clumps with purple, yellow-centred flowers that feed bees and butterflies late in the season.
- Height
- 91–183 cm / 3–6 ft
- Spread
- 30–92 cm / 1–3 ft
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Dry / Moist, well-drained
- Flowering
- Fall, Summer
- Maintenance
- Medium
- USDA zones
- 4a–8b
Planting
Choose full sun and fertile, moist soil with good drainage. Allow room for a substantial clump at the back of a border or beside a pond.
Care
Pinch stems in spring for a bushier shape, accepting later flowering. Keep air moving around the foliage and support tall stems if they lean.
Before planting: Crowded foliage can develop powdery mildew.
Planting New England aster?
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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.
- New England aster: Drew Avery · CC BY 2.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Smooth aster: Cliff · 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.