October Skies Aromatic Aster

October Skies stays low and dense, 1 to 2 feet tall while spreading 2 to 4 feet across, which puts an aromatic aster at the front of a border or along a walk where the taller selections would lean into the path. This selection of the native Symphyotrichum oblongifolium grows in full sun to part sun, hardy from Zone 5 through Zone 8. Lavender-blue daisies with yellow centers cover the mound in mid to late fall, and the bloom often runs until frost. Asters are a keystone genus, and this species draws unusually large numbers of native bees, including specialists that feed on nothing else. The gray-green foliage is fine-textured and aromatic, releasing a clean balsam scent when brushed, which keeps deer and rabbits off it. Aromatic asters want lean, well-drained soil and full sun. Rich ground and regular water make them grow soft and open up at the center, so a dry spot suits this better than an irrigated bed. Give it room for the spread rather than crowding it. It handles drought, heat, poor soil, and moderate road salt once established.