Wood's Purple Aster
Aster novi-belgii 'Wood's Purple', Symphyotrichum 'Wood's Purple'Wood’s Purple Aster is a compact perennial that brings a rich burst of purple color to the garden in late summer and fall. Its daisy-like flowers feature vivid purple petals surrounding bright yellow centers, creating a striking display when many other perennials are beginning to fade. The flowers are especially valuable to late-season honey bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Its naturally rounded, compact habit makes Wood’s Purple particularly useful along the front of perennial borders and in smaller planting areas. The dark green foliage provides a dense backdrop for the flowers throughout the growing season, while the abundance of blooms creates a strong late-season color display without requiring a tall or sprawling plant.
Wood’s Purple Aster performs best in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. It is an excellent choice for pollinator gardens, cottage gardens, mixed borders, and mass plantings where a dependable source of late-season color is needed. Regular moisture helps maintain vigorous growth and abundant flowering, particularly during periods of summer heat.
Care Instructions:
Planting: Plant in full sun in moist, well-drained soil.
Soil: Prefers fertile, moist soil with good drainage.
Watering: Water regularly during establishment and during periods of heat or drought. Avoid allowing the soil to become excessively dry.
Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring if needed.
Pruning: Pinch back stems in early summer to encourage a fuller, more compact habit. Cut plants back after flowering or in late winter.
Spacing: Space plants 12–18 inches apart to allow room for mature growth and good air circulation.
Maintenance: Divide plants every few years in spring if clumps become crowded. Good air circulation can help prevent foliar issues.
With its compact form, vivid purple flowers, and late-season bloom time, Wood’s Purple Aster is an excellent way to keep gardens colorful and beneficial pollinators active well into fall.
Landscape Solutions:
- Adds a dependable nectar source to gardens during the fall pollinator season.
- Creates a dense ground-level planting for covering open spaces in sunny borders.
