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, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 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.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.