Plant Calculator
Enter the approximate length and width of the area you will be planting and click 'Calculate' to determine how many Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies' you will need.
Correct and successful spacing is complex and depends on project conditions. We encourage you to call us at 877-ECO-PLUG for project specific recommendations and further assistance.
Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies'
aromatic aster
- Category: Perennial
- Hardiness Zone: 5-8
- Height: 18 Inches
- Spread: 18 Inches
- Spacing: 12-18 Inches
- Bloom Color: Violet
Shorter, bushier, bluer sister of 'Raydon's Favorite'. A strong growing low mound of bushy foliage covered in lavender blue flowers in mid fall. Highly tolerant of drought and poor soils. This Primrose Path introduction has excellent groundcover potential.
Exposure
| • | Full Sun |
Plug Type
| • | Horticultural Plug |
Season of Interest (Flowering)
| • | Fall |
Propagation Type
| • | Vegetative |
Additional Information about Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies'
Aster oblongifolius ‘October Skies’, now Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’, is an intensely floriferous, low-growing selection of aromatic aster. It forms a bushy habit of 2’ tall by 2’ wide and is covered with 1” blue-lavender flowers beginning late summer through to fall. Related to Aster ‘Raydon’s Favorite,’ it grows slightly more compact and starts blooming two weeks earlier. This plant has great potential as a groundcover.
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium prefers full sun and dry conditions. It generally can be found in limestone glades, slopes, prairies, and dry open ground and has a high pH tolerance. While it prefers lean soils, aromatic aster is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions and can tolerate heat, pollution, and soil compaction. Due to its aromatic foliage, it is highly resistant to deer, rabbits, rodents, and insects.
While aromatic aster prefers dry sites with poor soils and limited competition, we find it does well in our trials, even in heavy clay, or competing with plants on a steep hillside in our constructed wetland area. It is a favorite for butterflies and provides a great nectar resource late in the season. Seedlings do not come true to ‘October Skies’ - to prevent the possible spread of unwanted aromatic aster, it is recommended to cut off seedheads before they fully ripen in a managed setting.
Growing & Maintenance Tips for Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies'
Grow in full sun in average to dry soil. Cut back after flowering to prevent the spread of variable seedlings.
