'October Skies' Aster
Perennial
- Lavender-blue flowers welcome fall!
- Deer & rabbit resistant native perennial.
- Late-season pollinator resource, especially for butterflies.
- Drought-tolerant & low-maintenance.
- Zones 3-8, sun, 18″ tall x 24″ wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Aster is a native perennial with a full, bushy habit that is naturally compact, making it perfect for borders or containers. It's generally very low maintenance and easy to care for, so it's perfect for beginners. No trimming or shaping is required to keep it looking full and neat! All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the long-lasting blooms.
Details
Common name: Aster
Zone: 3 - 8
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: 1.5' tall x 1.5' wide
Flower color: Purple, blue
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer - fall
Bloom time: Midsummer, late summer, early fall
Features: Space savers, rabbit resistant, deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, fall-interest, long-blooming, native, pollinator-friendly, cold-tolerant, fragrant, slopes & hills
Uses: Accent, border, container gardening, cottage gardening, foundation planting, massing, specimen
How to Grow
Light: Tolerates filtered sunlight but prefers full sun (> 6 hours sun).
Water: Average water needs. It can adapt to dry or moist conditions but cannot tolerate standing water.
Spacing: Min 2’ apart.
Fertilizing: If necessary, fertilize in early spring with a slow-release product such as osmocote. However, fertilizing is generally unnecessary.
Winterizing: Appreciates a winter mulch in the northern parts of its growing range.
Maintenance & pruning: Deadhead individual spent flowers and remove spent flowering stems to encourage additional bloom. Once flowering finishes, cut plants back to the lower foliage to promote new growth.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.