Aster novi-belgii (New York Aster)

Adding brilliant color to the late-season garden, Aster novi-belgii (New York Aster) is a clump-forming, upright perennial boasting masses of purple daisies with sunny yellow centers from mid-summer to mid-fall. Borne on slender, branched stems bearing lance-shaped leaves, they bloom for weeks and enliven any sunny corner of the garden. Native to North America, this eye-catching Aster is easy to grow, long-lived, brings cheerful fall color, and is a great source of nectar for butterflies. Monarch and other butterflies, skippers, and bees visit its blossoms.

• Grows up to 3-4 ft. tall (90-120 cm) and 2-3 ft. wide (60-90 cm).
• Thrives in full sun in medium moisture, sandy, loamy, and clay, well-drained soils. Moist, rich soils are preferred. It tolerates nutritionally poor soil, and partial shade but prefers a sunny location. Provide good air circulation to avoid foliage diseases such as powdery mildew. Drought and salt tolerant.
• Vital ingredient of late summer and fall borders, cottage gardens, coastal gardens, or butterfly gardens. New York Asters are also valued for the excellent quality of their cut flowers.
• Propagate by division in spring. Divide every third year to maintain vigor. Pinching back several times in early summer will help develop more compact and bushy plants,
• No serious pest or disease issues. Sometimes susceptible to powdery mildew. The plant is somewhat unpalatable to deer and rabbits.
• Cut back in late fall.
• Native to eastern Canada and the northeastern USA.