SEED ORDERS OVER $100 SHIP FREE!
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium

Aromatic Aster

$3.00 - $17.50

Packet
$3.00
1/8 oz.
$11.25
1/4 oz.
$17.50

Bare Root Plants
Out of Stock

3 Pack
Out of Stock
Tray of 38
Out of Stock
Tray of 50
Out of Stock

Aromatic Aster is one of the last Aster species to bloom in the fall. Enjoy blooms well into October, even into November in some parts of the US. The stiff stems will branch out slowly to create a bush-like appearance and will be completely covered in light purple flowers when blooming. The flowers will turn reddish purple as they mature.  Despite the name, the flowers have no aroma, but the leaves do when crushed.

Aromatic Aster has fibrous roots and spreads via rhizomes. Full sun and drier soils are preferred but average soil is tolerated if it drains well.  Another scientific name in use is Aster oblongifolius.

Live Plant Shipping Table

Spring Fall Age/Size
Dormant Bare Roots April/May October
Potted 3-Packs May/June August/September 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep pots
Potted Trays of 38* May/June N/A 2" wide x 5" deep plugs
Potted Trays of 50 April-JuneAugust 2" wide x 5" deep plugs
*This species is a choice in the Mix & Match - Create Your Own Tray!

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium - Aromatic Aster

Map Key

Present in state
Present but introduced in county
Present and native in county; not rare
Not present in state
Present and native in county; rare
Species extirpated (historic)
State or county listed as noxious
Present in state; exotic

This map shows the native and introduced (adventive) range of this species. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range.

4 Questions asked on Symphyotrichum oblongifolium

We live on a large lake in mid-GA. trying to help Monarchs; milkweed-type plants get devastated by aphids and milkweed bugs. Looking at Asters now; are there some varieties that would do well in our area... zone 8?
We get lots of aphids, etc on our Milkweed too. If the plants are old and tough I do sometimes cut down a portion of the Milkweed to try and keep some flushes of younger leaves out there for caterpillars. If you have plants close to a hose, strong and regular blasting with a nozzle helps remove the aphids.

As for Asters, go to our website and bring up an Aster. Click on the "RANGE MAP" tab.   View the record for where it has been found to see if it will thrive in your part of GA or not. I use this feature often and it is very handy. *Be sure to match the sun and soil info as well. I hope this helps.
Can you tell me how aggressively this spreads?
It is not overly aggressive in most settings.  It does spread but can be curtailed by pulling and mulch.

I planted it in the Prairie Moon rain garden; when the planting was young I would pull some every year. Now that plants are mature and they have filled, I don’t do much pulling at all. This will vary a bit site to site. Our soil is somewhat dry here.
We planted six of these in June and they’ve just grown like mad and are huge and larger than expected. Is it safe or ok to prune these a little? In a few spots they are sort of taking over some of the space from other new plants that haven’t grown as quickly.
Hi Dawn. Yes, feel free to trim this species back early summer and still enjoy blooms in the fall. It really does take on a large shrub-like, mounded shape in the right environments. It must love it at your place!
Does germination code A (no pre-treatment necessary, seeds germinate after being planted in a warm location) imply that these can or should be planted in the spring? Comparing this to sky blue aster, which also has germination code G, suggesting it should be planted in fall... is there a strong preference for spring planting if the code A plants are not also code G?
Hi Joanna. Germination Code A species like Aromatic Aster can be sown in either spring or fall. In a natural setting, most native seeds mature and fall to the ground in the autumn and they ride out the winter months just fine. Sky Blue Aster, with the additional Code G, does have a preference for some period of cool, moist stratification.

Seed

Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow.

Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Seed dormancy can be broken artificially by prolonged refrigeration of damp seed in the process of cold/moist STRATIFICATION. A less complicated approach is to let nature handle the stratifying through a dormant seeding, sowing seeds on the surface of a weed-free site in late fall or winter. Tucked safely beneath the snow, seeds will be conditioned by weathering to make germination possible in subsequent growing seasons.

To learn more, read our BLOG: How to Germinate Native Seeds

Dormant Bare Root Plants

We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order.

Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants

Potted Plants

3-packs and trays of 32, 38, or 50 plants leave our Midwest greenhouses based on species readiness (being well-rooted for transit) and order date; Spring shipping is typically early May through June, and Fall shipping is mid-August through September. Potted 3-packs and trays of 38 plugs are started from seed in the winter so are typically 3-4 months old when they ship. Trays of 32/50 plugs are usually overwintered so are 1 year old. Plant tray cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays of 38 and 50, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs and trays of 32; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Full-color tags and planting & care instructions are included with each order.

Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.

US Shipping & Handling Charges

SEED $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!

Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost
(for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required)

BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost. (For orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required.)

TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US).

**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.

Shipping Season

SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.

BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.

POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.

Delivery

We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order.

FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.

Details

Seeds/Packet
200
Seeds/Ounce
80,000
Germination Code
A
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Exposure
Full
Soil Moisture
Medium-Dry, Dry
Height
2 feet
Bloom Time
August, September, October, November
Bloom Color
Purple
Advantages
Pollinator Favorite: butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, beetles
Bird Favorite: seeds, insects, fruit, nectar, nesting, perch
Recommended for home landscaping but potentially aggressive; could overwhelm small landscapes
USDA Zones
3-8
Plant Spacing
12-18''
Catalog Code
AST20F