Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’ – Aromatic Aster

What a great aster! Late-blooming, often flowering right up to the first hard frost. Large, showy flowers that smother the plant. Aromatic foliage that deer and rabbits find unpalatable. Drought tolerance, making it a perfect choice for a hot, dry spot. Dense, compact, bushy form and a moderate spreading tendency. Like all Asters, it’s a good food plant for butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects. The stronghold of Aromatic Aster is the Great Plains from Minnesota to Montana south to Texas. It also occurs sporadically in the southeast and reaches as far to the northeast as central Pennsylvania. Given that range, it’s not surprising that it has a preference for calcareous soils, but it seems to be quite adaptable to our area’s acidic soils. Simply put, one of our favorites – not just amongst the asters but amongst all natives!