Aster 'October Skies' #1

A Little Autumn Sky for Your Garden

Just when the garden begins to slow down, ‘October Skies’ aromatic aster brings a fresh burst of violet-blue color. Small, daisy-like flowers with sunny yellow centers cover its compact, bushy mound in fall, offering late-season forage for bees and a lovely reason to linger along the garden path.

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’ is a cultivated selection of aromatic aster, a species native to the northeastern and central United States. Its foliage releases a pleasant fragrance when crushed, and its low-growing habit fits beautifully into sunny borders, pollinator gardens, and naturalistic plantings.

• Available Size: 1-gallon nursery container
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial; cultivar of a U.S.-native species
• Flowers: Violet-blue with yellow centers in fall
• Mature Size: Approximately 12–18 inches tall and 18–24 inches wide
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained soil; tolerates dry conditions once established
• Garden Benefits: Late-season flowers for bees and other pollinators; fragrant foliage

Growing Tips

Plant in a sunny spot with good drainage and water regularly while roots establish. Avoid persistently soggy soil. Leave room for the mound to fill out over time, and enjoy its colorful fall display year after year.