Do you smell that? It wasn't us! It was probably the wonderfully balsamy scent of the aromatic stems and leaves of our native Aster oblongifolius (syn. Symphyotrichum oblongifolium). Aster oblongifolius is a highly adaptable native perennial forming dense mounds of aromatic foliage topped with masses of lavender-purple flowers with golden centers from late summer to the first frosts of winter. Its compact habit and exceptional tolerance of drought, rocky soils, heat, and urban stressors make it especially valuable for streetscapes, meadow gardens, and low-input landscapes. Pollinators, particularly bees in the genus Andrena, flock to the abundant blooms during a critical late-season window and will utilize dried, hollow flower stems as overwintering larval structures. As its name suggests, the foliage of Aromatic Aster releases a pleasant fragrance when brushed, crushed, or mussed with. The dense, compact habit and long, abundant bloom time make Aster oblongifolius particularly effective when massed along rocky pathways, slopes, and sunny perennial borders where durable structure and extended seasonal color are desired. 

• Category: Perennials
• Hardiness Zone: 3
• Height: 24 Inches
• Spread: 24 Inches
• Bloom Color: Blue, Lavender/Purple, Purple