New England Aster is a fall-blooming aster that provides necessary nectar and pollen late in the growing season. It can withstand wetter soil conditions.
Pollinator Type
Bees, butterflies, flies, caterpillars
Plant Type
Herbaceous perennial
Zone
4 to 8
Height
3 to 6 ft.
Spread
2 to 3 ft.
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Moisture Requirement
Medium Soil, Wet Soil
Bloom Color
Pink, Purple
Bloom Time
August, September, October
Design Considerations
Good for small groupings or massing as the back of native plant beds. Consider planting near other sturdy plants that will help support the stems while in bloom.
Care and Maintenance
May need to be staked when in bloom. Can be pinched back multiple times from late spring through summer to encourage more compact growth. Lower leaves tend to drop in late summer and fall. Produces a large amount of seed and can become weedy.
Pest and Diseases
Susceptible to powdery mildew and aster wilt. Insects and rabbits consume foliage.
Establishment and Propagation
Best started by seeds in flats, then transplanted. Can be transplanted in early spring or fall.
Commercial Availability
Commonly available.
Alternative Plant Selections
Great Blue Lobelia
Native Status
Illinois native statewide.
Fall Color
Insignificant foliage. Flowers in late summer to fall.
Growth habit
Large showy plant with a stout, upright habit. Purple to pinkish clusters of daisy-like flowers emerge at the tips in the late growing season.
Number of Caterpillars that Use this as a Host Plant
