Smooth Aster
Symphyotrichum laeve
Waxy blue-gray foliage and lavender-blue September stars that butterflies work persistently. Drought-tolerant, mildew-resistant, no staking needed.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Sep 248 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Sep 258 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Sep 268 AM – 2 PM
The drought-toughest fall aster. blue-gray foliage all season and lavender-blue October bloom without the mildew problems.
Smooth Aster stands out among fall asters for its distinctly waxy, blue-gray foliage, a cool, glaucous texture that photographs beautifully and contrasts well with the warmer colors of rudbeckia and goldenrod in the late-season border. The lavender-blue flowers open in September and October, covering the stems in hundreds of small, star-shaped blooms that butterflies work persistently. The smooth, waxy stems shed moisture effectively and resist powdery mildew, a chronic problem for some asters in humid summers. It's also considerably more drought-tolerant than New England Aster, thriving in dry, rocky, or sandy soil without complaint. Give it full sun and lean soil and it will stand without staking, spread moderately into a handsome clump, and return dependably every fall.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown smooth aster propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Dry
- Mature size
- 2–4 ft · 24–36 in wide
- Bloom time
- September–October
- Bloom color
- Lavender, Blue
- USDA zones
- 4–8
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native range
- Eastern and central North America, from Quebec south to Georgia, west to Colorado
Care notes for smooth aster.
Plant in full sun in well-drained to dry, average soil. Tolerates rocky, sandy, and lean conditions well. Pinch back in early summer for a more compact form. Divide every 3-4 years in spring. Very drought-tolerant once established. The waxy foliage sheds water and resists mildew better than most asters.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside smooth aster.
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