New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
The showiest native aster: a column of deep purple-violet bloom in September and October that you can see from across the yard.
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 most dramatic fall-blooming native perennial. explosive purple color in September when the garden needs it most.
New England Aster is the showiest of all the native asters: tall, bold, and explosive with color in September and October. The deep purple-violet flowers with bright yellow centers cover the plant from top to bottom when in bloom, creating a column of color that you can see from across the yard. It's the native aster that gets attention, stops people on the sidewalk, and makes them ask what it is. The plant is tall, 4 to 5 feet without pruning, and benefits from a mid-summer Chelsea chop to keep it compact and self-supporting. In return for that single pruning, you get a fall display that butterflies, bees, and goldfinch all use intensively. Plant it at the back of a border, at the edge of a meadow, or along a fence line where the height is an asset rather than a problem.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown new england 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
- Average
- Mature size
- 3–5 ft · 24–36 in wide
- Bloom time
- Fall
- Bloom color
- Purple
- USDA zones
- 4–8
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native range
- Eastern and central North America, from Quebec south to Alabama, west to Wyoming
Care notes for new england aster.
Plant in full sun to part shade in moist to average soil. Cut back by half in late June to reduce height and prevent flopping. Divide every 2-3 years in early spring. this one can become crowded quickly. Tolerates moist conditions better than most asters. Mildew can occur in wet summers; good air circulation helps.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside new england 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’.