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Smooth Aster

Category:

A mounded variety that features narrow, green foliage and clusters of lavender flowers with yellow eyes; flowering from late summer into the fall; a wonderful addition to garden beds, borders and patio containers; low maintenance and easy to grow

Characteristics

Average Landscape Height:
3 feet
Average Landscape Width:
24 inches
Growth Rate:
medium
Genus:
Aster
Species:
laevis
Flower Color:
lavender
Flower Period:
from late summer to late fall
Summer Foliage Color:
dark green
Minimum Light:
partial shade
Maximum Light:
full sun
Minimum Moisture:
average
Maximum Moisture:
moist
Plant Form:
mounded
Canopy:
leggy
Pruning:
spring cleanup
Pollution Tolerance:
medium
Other Species Names:
Smooth Aster
Branching:
herbaceous
Density:
dense
Flower Eye Color:
yellow
Flower Form:
daisy

Ornamental Features

Smooth Aster has masses of beautiful lavender daisy flowers with yellow eyes at the ends of the stems from late summer to late fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Smooth Aster is a dense herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

Planting & Growing

Smooth Aster will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. It tends to be leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and should be underplanted with lower-growing perennials. The flower stalks can be weak and so it may require staking in exposed sites or excessively rich soils. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.

Smooth Aster is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

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