Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
A cheerful, unkillable starter native that blooms its first year and seeds itself politely around.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
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- Plant guide
- Aromatic Aster
Sky blue
Perennial wildflower
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
A drought-proof, mounding aster that closes the pollinator season with sheets of blue.
the Midwestthe Great Plainsthe South-Central regionthe Mid-Atlanticthe Southeast
Growing Aromatic Aster
Tougher and tidier than New England aster, blooming even later and asking for nothing but sun and good drainage. It’s deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, showy, and easy to grow.
Where it grows
Aromatic Aster is native to the Midwest. In the wild you’ll find it across Alabama · Arkansas · Colorado · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas and 26 more states. Always confirm it suits your specific county with your state native plant society before planting.
Regional Garden shows Aromatic Aster on 36 state pages.
Good for
Sourcing
Where to buy Aromatic Aster
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.
Plant it with
Companions & kin.
Natives that share Aromatic Aster’s range and conditions.
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Sunny gold daisies for weeks in early summer on the leanest, driest soil you can offer.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
A prairie giant whose paired leaves hold rainwater for birds; goldfinches mob the seeds.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Late-season fuel — clouds of purple daisies feeding migrating monarchs and the last bumblebees of fall.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct