Smooth Aster

Symphyotrichum laeve

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.