(New York Aster)

Asters in the Island Series bear masses of pink, lavender, or violet daisy-flowers in late summer and fall on dense, compact, mildew-resistant plants. The yellow-eyed, semi-double blossoms are complemented by green, lance-shaped foliage. The series included four cultivars as of fall 2011: 'Barbados', 'Bermuda', 'Samoa', and 'Tonga'. All cultivated New York asters are selections or hybrids of Aster novi-belgii, a vigorous, bushy, clump-forming perennial from moist fields and thickets...

(New York Aster)

Members of the Viking series are best known for their large flowers, compact mounded habits, and vigorous growth. Like other New York asters, they are vigorous hardy perennials that originate from eastern North America and bear daisies of white, pink or violet-blue in late summer to fall. Plants are more floriferous and uniform if pinched back in late spring to early summer. For best growth, provide them with slightly moist, loamy soil and full to part sun. These asters look great in mixed borders...

(Aromatic Aster)

This North American native is among the best perennials for providing bold masses of late-season color. Clouds of violet or purple daisies with fine petals and yellow centers appear in late summer and fall on stout, many-branched stems. A single plant can have a dozen or more flower stems. The blooms are irresistible to butterflies as well as other beneficial insects that flock to this late-season nectar source. The foliage is remarkably fragrant when crushed, hence its common name.

Full sun...

(Aromatic Aster)

Noted for its compact, spreading habit, 'October Skies' is a wonderfully landscape-friendly aromatic aster that's as tough as it is pretty. Its many lavender-blue daisies have dusty yellow centers and fine petals. Their cool color contrasts beautifully with yellow-flowered fall composites. Flowering typically begins in mid-fall and continues for up to three or four weeks.

This North American native is among the best perennials for providing bold masses of late-season color. Clouds of violet...

(Aromatic Aster)

Clouds of lavender-blue flowers cover this bushy, relatively compact aromatic aster from early to mid-autumn. This favorite cultivar was bred at Holbrook Farm Nursery, in Fletcher, North Carolina; an establishment that has since closed.

This North American native aster is among the best perennials for providing bold masses of late-season color. Lots of cool daisies with fine petals and yellow centers appear in late summer and fall on stout, many-branched stems. A single plant can have a dozen...

(Tatarian Aster)

The tall, loose floral clusters of this hardy perennial aster are bold and striking.

Tatarian aster is a showy late season bloomer that originates from Siberia, so it is particularly cold hardy. The upright, clump-forming plant has rounded dark green leaves that are remarkably fragrant when crushed. In late summer to fall it produces upright, leafy stems from which rise broad, loose, terminal clusters of blue daisies. Each flower has violet or purple rays and a yellow center. These are irresistible...

(Tatarian Aster)

The tall, loose floral clusters of this hardy perennial aster are bold and striking.

Tatarian aster is a showy late season bloomer that originates from Siberia, so it is particularly cold hardy. The upright, clump-forming plant has rounded dark green leaves that are remarkably fragrant when crushed. In late summer to fall it produces upright, leafy stems from which rise broad, loose, terminal clusters of blue daisies. Each flower has violet or purple rays and a yellow center. These are irresistible...

(East Indies Aster)

Aster tongolensis is a compact perennial perfect for bringing late-season color to smaller gardens. Native to western China and the Himalayas, it is well adapted to dry, rocky soils of low fertility, making it a fine choice for waterwise gardens. It forms a low mat of oval, somewhat hairy leaves, from which rise numerous, nearly leafless stems topped by yellow-centered, violet-blue daisies, which bloom in late spring to early summer.

Preferring full to partial sun, Aster tongolensis...

(East Indies Aster, Wartburg Star Aster)

This unique and beautiful aster forms a spreading, rhizomatous mat of dark green, oval-shaped, lightly hairy foliage topped with large, rich violet-blue daisies in early summer. The prolific, gold-centered blossom bloom singly on slender, wiry stems, and are highly attractive to butterflies and other small, pollinating insects. ‘Wartburg Star’ is a cultivar of East Indies aster, which is native to western China and the Himalayas.

Provide this perennial with full sun and moderately fertile,...

(Frikart's Aster)

Members of this group of asters were originally hybridized around 1920 by German plant breeder, Karl Frikart, who produced them by crossing the European species Aster amellus with Aster thomsonii, a species native to the Himalayas. Aster x frikartii hybrids produce open, bushy plants with oval, somewhat fuzzy, medium-green foliage and large, yellow-centered, lavender-blue daisies which bloom generously from early summer well into autumn.

Aster x frikartii...