New England Aster: A native perennial for natural gardens
New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), offered by OSC Seeds
The New England Aster is a native Ontario perennial, perfect for attracting songbirds, pollinators, and butterflies to your garden. This plant features violet-purple flowers with a yellow-orange center, blooming from mid-August to October. Growing between 60 and 120 cm tall, this aster thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade, flourishing in moist soils found in fields, meadows, and forest edges. This perennial is hardy to Zone 3.
Spread: 45 to 60 cm
Plant height: 60 to 120 cm
Packet size: Approximately 300 seeds
Companion plants: Rudbeckia, echinacea, goldenrod
Incompatible plants: None known
How to Grow:
For natural stratification, sow seeds outdoors in the fall in a sunny or semi-shaded location, covering them lightly with soil. For indoor sowing, begin in early March using a soilless mix, sowing seeds at a depth of 3 mm. Moisten the growing medium, then refrigerate or freeze the container for 2 to 3 weeks. Afterward, maintain a temperature of 20°C for germination, which may take 21 to 35 days or longer. Once germinated, place seedlings under lights in slightly cooler temperatures. Harden off the plants before transplanting them outdoors. Blooms typically appear two years after sowing seeds.
The New England Aster is an excellent addition to natural gardens, offering late-season blooms and ecological benefits for pollinators and wildlife.
