New York Aster

New York aster is the parent of most of the old garden asters, and the wild form still earns a place for how heavily it flowers at the end of the season. Symphyotrichum novi-belgii grows 2 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide in full sun to part sun, hardy from Zone 4 through Zone 8, and blooms the first season after planting.

Deep violet-blue daisies with yellow centers open in late autumn and keep going until frost. Asters are a keystone genus, and this is one of the last nectar sources standing when the season closes. It feeds pearl crescent caterpillars.

The leaves are smooth and narrow, clasping the stem, and the whole plant has a finer texture than New England aster.

New York aster grows wild in coastal marshes, wet meadows, and along tidal shores, which is why it takes wet ground and moderate salt better than most perennials. It wants consistent moisture and struggles in a dry bed. Full sun and room for air movement matter, since this species mildews more readily than the others when crowded or dry at the roots. Cutting the stems back by half in June gives a shorter, denser plant. Deer generally leave it alone.