PlantFiles: New England Aster, Hardy Aster, Michaelmas Daisy
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Purple Dome'

A hardy native but I've had to hide them behind other plants to mask the bottom half, which turns brown and nearly defoliates by the fall. Otherwise beautiful flowers atop a very unattractive base.

This plant was given to me by a gardening friend in CT. It was a division from her own garden. I have had it for a number of years now and have not found it to reseed itself like my tall NE asters do. But it does spread vegetatively quite well. It has been divided a number of times and passed along to friends and relatives. I also find that the bees are not attracted to it at all, compared to how they swarm the taller NE asters. Aside from that, it is wonderfully floriferous, strong growing and to me the best thing about it is that it is of shorter stature, around 24 inches in my garden, which makes it wonderful towards the front of the border/bed. I recommend it!

New England Aster is a wildflower in Illinois that often attains 6 feet in height. The distinctive 1-1.5" wide flower heads are clustered along the upper stems and completely cover the plant. The habitats preferred are moist or wet prairies, fens, and pastures. It adapts well to the garden. Blooming in the fall (Aug.- Oct.) it is a stunning butterfly magnet.
To maintain an upright stature it has been necessary to enclose the clumps in a support system of steel re-bars connected by twine.

Originally native over a wide area of the eastern and central USA, this species is represented in cultivation by many cultivars, showing much variation in form and color of blooms. Vigorous clumps of mostly vertical, 3-5' stems are likely to lean with the weight of large, loose clusters of daisies, making staking necessary. Cultivars include the late-bloomimg, clear pink 'Harrington's Pink'; the rose-pink, mildew resistant 'Barr's Pink'; and the cerise 'September Ruby''; while 'Andenken an Alma Potschke', is a compact-growing, though 4' tall plant with bright rose pink blooms, and 'Hella Lacy'. These asters prefer a moist, rich soil in full sun.
Zones 4-9

New England Aster "Purple Dome". Grew in a container on my sixth floor balcony in Denver from three small plants planted in June 07. My photo is from 10/11/07.

ASTER PURPLE DOME - New England Aster - Medium - Plant 20" apart. - Only 18" high. Compact and free flowering. A stunning, deep purple. Disease resistant. We are happy to be able to offer these fine New England Asters. They form robust semi-woody clumps which flower from late summer into fall. And do they flower! Each arching branch is covered with blossoms. Tolerant of wet conditions .

I have it in my garden, having bought it locally in 2005. This year the wild rabbits chew alot on it, but finally left it alone and it got bigger again and bloomed. It is beautiful! I hope they leave it alone next year and it gets even more beautful with alot more blooms. I might have to sprinkle some cayenne pepper on the leaves in Spring to get them to leave it alone.

10/25/07:

This year in Spring and early Summer, I sprinkled some cayenne pepper on the leaves (and after any rainfall), hoping the wild rabbits would leave it alone, then I pinched it every so often and it ended up looking like the photo I posted on 10/13/07.

This is my first experience with the 'Purple Dome' Aster and it's been quite a success. I started with tiny plants from mailorder that I didn't expect would grow much the first season. I ended the season with well behaved (no flopiness, here!) neat plants with close to mature spread and covered with a multitude of blooms.

The plants are growing in sandy soil in a location that gets some afternoon shade. My main problem with these particular plants is that rabbits tend to enjoy nipping off the new growth. "Rabbit-no-more" repellent worked very well as long I remembered to refresh the application after we had rain.

I was very impressed with 'Purple Dome' aster...and plan to add more to my gardens.

~julie~

This aster has beautiful vivid purple daisy-like flowers that cover the plant. They are 1-2” wide with a plant width of 18-24” and a height of 18”. Gprgeous!!!

It blooms in the early fall till frost and is a definite butterfly and bird attractor.

‘Purple Domes’ looks great in borders and mass plantings.