(Blue Star Aster, Heath Aster)

A form of the North American native heath aster, ‘Blue Star’ produces a generous display of small but profuse, pale-blue daisies on arching, open, many-branched stems lined with short, narrow, needle-like leaves. The dainty, yellow-eyed blooms color the garden from late summer to autumn, and are highly attractive to butterflies and other small, pollinating insects.

This tough, drought-tolerant perennial grows easily in full sun and adaptable to a range of well-drained soils. If allowed, it...

(Heath Aster, Sungal Heath Aster)

A form of the North American native heath aster, ‘Pink Cloud’ produces a generous display of small but profuse, pale-pink daisies on arching, open, many-branched stems lined with short, narrow, needle-like leaves. The dainty, yellow-eyed blooms appear from late summer to autumn, and are highly attractive to butterflies and other small, pollinating insects.

This tough, drought-tolerant perennial grows easily in full sun and adaptable to a range of well-drained soils. If allowed, it may self-sow...

(Prostrate Heath Aster)

Heath aster is a tough, drought-tolerant perennial native to much of central and eastern North America. Its well-branched stems are densely lined with fine textured, deep green, needle-like foliage. Heath asters sold under the name prostratus typically have trailing, ground-hugging stems. Drifts of small, bright white daisies with yellow centers cover the plants in autumn, and are highly attractive to butterflies and other small pollinating insects. Plants are self-sterile, but may produce...

(Prostrate Heath Aster)

This ground-hugging, fine-leaved perennial covers itself with small, snowy "daisies" in late summer and early fall. It is a cultivar of heath aster, a tough, drought-tolerant perennial native to much of central and eastern North America.

The well-branched, prostrate stems of 'Snowdrift' are densely lined with fine textured, deep green, needle-like foliage. Drifts of petite, bright white, daisy-like blossoms with yellow centers cover the plants in autumn, and are highly attractive to butterflies...

(Prostrate Heath Aster, Snow Flurry Heath Aster)

Aster ‘Snow Flurry’ is a prostrate form of heath aster, a tough, drought-tolerant perennial native to North America. It forms a very low-growing, spreading mat of short, narrow, needle-like foliage which is carpeted with many small, white, yellow-centered daisies from early to mid-autumn. Its dainty blooms are highly attractive to bees and butterflies, and add a breath of freshness to the garden following the tired, faded tones of late summer.

This distinctive perennial thrives in full sun...

(Calico Aster)

Calico aster is a clump-forming perennial native to much of eastern and central North America. This species is most often found in lightly shaded forests, although it also grows in full sun locations where soils are moist. Its delicate sprays of small daisies displayed in autumn make it a valuable addition to perennial borders, woodland gardens or wildflower meadows, and also make attractive, long-lasting fillers for cut flower arrangements.

The slender, arching, branched stems of this aster...

(Calico Aster, Lady in Black Calico Aster)

The deep purple foliage of this striking calico aster cultivar contrasts dramatically with its clouds of tiny, white, purple-centered flowers displayed in autumn. The species is most often found in lightly shaded forests throughout most of eastern and central North America, although it also grows in full sun locations where soils are moist. ‘Lady in Black’ achieves its best foliage color in full sun, and is perfect for perennial borders, woodland gardens or wildflower meadows. Its dainty blossoms...

(New England Aster, Red Star Aster)

New England aster ‘Red Star’ forms a rounded, compact dome covered with masses of ruby-pink, yellow-centered daisies in late summer to autumn. Exceptionally low-growing, it does not require staking as do many taller forms of the species. Its blossoms are complemented by bright green, lance-shaped foliage, and are attractive to butterflies and other small, pollinating insects.

Though quite adaptable, this low-maintenence perennial performs best in full sun and moderately fertile soil with average...

(Michaelmas Daisy, New York Aster)

New York aster is a vigorous, bushy, clump-forming perennial originating from eastern North America. Beloved for its late summer to autumn display of showy, brightly colored daisies, this popular garden flower has yielded literally hundreds of cultivars. Its tall, well-branched stems are lined alternately with bright green, lance-shaped foliage that is smooth unlike the hairy foliage of New England aster (Aster novae-angliae), to which it is similar. The flowers are typically violet-blue,...

(Alert New York Aster, New York Aster)

Rich, colorful, purple-red daisies bedeck this sweet, compact perennial from late summer into fall. ‘Alert’ is a cultivar of New York aster, a bushy, clump-forming perennial originating from eastern North America. Its vivid, yellow-centered blossoms are complemented by bright green, lance-shaped foliage, and are highly attractive to bees, butterflies and other small, pollinating insects. The seeds that follow provide a source of food for seed-eating birds such as goldfinches.

Although quite...