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

Although it does indeed self-seed prolifically, it's majestic splendor in the fall makes it my premier fall blooming perennial. It's also a late season butterfly magnet. Combined with goldenrod it steals the show.

This native perennial wildflower is drought resistent and needs no staking. Not a heavy seeder in my experience. Just enough to perpetuate the species without unduly interfering with other plants.

The hybrid varieties are very pretty but the wild forms - while alright looking - are rather plain. Hybrids are also more tame but given the right enviroment (in the Northeast U.S., for example), all New England Asters can be invasive. Not ridiculously so, but can self-seed and spread to the point of being a mild nuisance, more suited to wild areas to me than a garden.

The species makes a wide bush about 4' around if not pruned or staked after it falls down; this provides much better flowering because flowering shoots grow up from all along the stems. Re-seeds itself around a lot if not deadheaded.


It grows well in light shade, but best flowering in full sun.

New England Asters are perennial in zones 3-9 and grow from 2-5' tall. The leaves are 4-5" long and the flowers are 2" across, violet purple and have a bright, golden yellow center. Water plants in early morning when possible and avoid getting the leaves wet. You may need to stake taller varieties.

The plants should be planted in open, airy location to lessen risk of powdery mildew and need well-drained, dry, fertile soil.

Propagation can be done by stem cuttings or by division in early spring or fall. Divisions should be done every 2 years or so when the center of the plants begin to die. Cultivars don't grow true from seed very often.