October Skies Aromatic Aster is a compact native perennial with stiff hairy blue-green lance like foliage. Clusters of small sky blue flowers with yellow centers bloom from late summer into fall, and becomes a darker blue in October. Grows best in full sun and dry to medium well-drained soils.
Aster oblongifolium is a host of the Silvery Checkerspot Butterflies and of several moths.
|
Type:
|
Perennial
|
|
Origins:
|
East and Central N. America, SE Native
|
|
Height:
|
1.5’ - 2’
|
|
Spread:
|
1.5’ - 2’
|
|
Spacing:
|
1.5’
|
|
USDA Hardiness Zone:
|
3 - 8
|
|
Culture:
|
Full Sun
|
|
Bloom Color:
|
Blue
|
|
Season of Interest:
|
Summer, Fall
|
MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance Plant. Susceptible to powdery mildew if in poorly-drained soil. Cut stalks after flowering to prevent self-seeding.
LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Wildlife Gardens, Naturalized Areas, and Containers.
COMPANION PLANTS: Salvia, Dianthus, Phlox
IMAGES: Photos by Andrey Zharkikh, (1) Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'October Skies' syn. Aster oblongifolius), (2) 2014.09.18_18.31.51_DSCN1916, (3) 2014.09.18_18.31.02_DSCN1913, (4) Ulimw, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium october skies aster oblongifolius Ulimw 2020, CC BY-SA 4.0, (5) Quadell, October Skies Aster aster oblongifolius 1, CC BY 3.0
*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.
