Perennial · Deer-resistant
Fall Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Also called: Aromatic Aster
A mounding aster that vanishes into the background all summer, then bursts into a haze of blue-purple daisies in October — a lifeline of late nectar for pollinators.
Growing & care
Shear by half in early summer for a denser, more floriferous mound. Extremely drought tolerant. Aromatic foliage deer usually skip.
Bloom season
In bloom: Oct–Nov · Colors: purple, blue
Where to buy
Look for fall aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) at: Prairie Moon Nursery, native Texas nurseries.
Sources
Range, nomenclature, and the USDA symbol above come from the federal plant record for this species. Check it yourself:
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (SYOB) in the USDA PLANTS Database →
Good for
Plant it with
Natives that pair with fall aster
Same conditions, same uses — species that share fall aster's growing requirements and belong in the same bed.
Gayfeather
Liatris mucronata
Spires of feathery purple that open top-down in fall, when Monarchs are moving through and desperate for nectar.
Mexican Hat
Ratibida columnifera
A whimsical prairie flower whose drooping petals form a sombrero beneath a tall central cone.
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
A fine-textured prairie legume with thimbles of purple bloom ringed in orange pollen.
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
A low, spreading shrub that blazes orange-red in fall and holds slopes with its suckering roots.
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
The backbone grass of the American prairie, turning coppery-mahogany in fall and silver-tufted in winter.
Prairie Verbena
Glandularia bipinnatifida
A low, spreading mat of purple flower clusters that bloom nearly nonstop and draw butterflies constantly.