Aster novae-angliae ‘Lou Williams’ (New England Aster)

A truly magnificent New England Aster variety, ‘Lou Williams’ (Aster novae-angliae) features abundant, large, daisy-like, rich ruby to purple-red flowers, 2.25 in. (5.5 cm), with broad petals. They bloom for weeks from late summer to late fall, on strong sprays that do not require staking. Native to North America, it is easy to grow, long-lived, brings cheerful fall color and is a great source of nectar for butterflies.

• Multi-stemmed, this New England Aster forms abundant clusters at the tips of sturdy stems that are clad with hairy rich green leaves. On cloudy days or at night, the flowers droop and close. As soon as the sun shines again, they pursue their glorious display and will do so for weeks.
• Typically grows up to 6 ft. tall (180 cm) and 24 in. wide (60 cm).
• Thrives in full sun or partial shade, in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Moist, rich soils are preferred. Provide good air circulation to avoid foliage diseases such as powdery mildew. Drought, salt, and wet soil tolerant.
• Vital ingredient of late summer and fall borders, cottage gardens, prairies, or butterfly gardens. Great for containers too! New England Asters are also valued for the excellent quality of their cut flowers.
• Asters are a must if you are trying to attract birds or butterflies. Plants are fairly unpalatable to browsing deer and rabbits.
• Pinch back stems before midsummer to promote bushiness, produce a greater number of flowers, and control the plant height (to avoid flopping by the plant). Asters may self-seed if grown in ideal conditions. Cutting back after flowering will prevent undesired self-seeding.

Aster novae-angliae, commonly known as New England Aster, belongs to the Asteraceae family, including yarrows, chrysanthemums, and sunflowers. The Genus Aster contains over 600 species and thousands of hybrid varieties, providing a wide choice to pick from, as they all vary in habit, height, flower color, leaf shape, and growing conditions. Providing an outstanding late-season show with its masses of violet or lavender daisy-like flowers, New England Aster is one of the tallest and most spectacular of the Asters.