Cotton Candy Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'Cotton Candy')
sim-fee-oh-TRIK-um ob-lonj-ih-FOE-lee-um 'Cotton Candy'

Deciduous Perennial in the Asteraceae Family
 
Buy Cotton Candy Aromatic Aster
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $11.58 Likely available
2/6 - 2/16
4/3 - 4/6
5/1 - 5/4

Teaser Showy pink flowers that bloom for late-season pollinators.

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, or Aromatic Aster, is a hardy native perennial that offers an abundance of late-season color and fragrance. This aster species typically grows 1-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide, forming a bushy, mounding clump of narrow, oblong leaves.

The plant's foliage has a distinctive, slightly hairy texture and releases a pleasant, anise-like aroma when crushed or brushed against. In late summer to fall, Aromatic Aster is smothered in clusters of showy, lavender-blue daisy-like flowers. These ray florets surround a yellow center disk, creating an eye-catching display that attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and moths.

Adaptable and low-maintenance, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained, average to dry soil conditions. Its compact, mounding habit makes it well-suited for use in rock gardens, along borders, or naturalized in meadows and prairies.

To maintain the plant's tidy appearance and encourage repeat blooming, deadhead spent flowers and cut back the foliage in early spring before new growth emerges. Division every 2-3 years can also help rejuvenate older clumps. With its long flowering period, fragrant foliage, and pollinator-friendly blooms, Aromatic Aster is a valuable addition to sustainable, low-maintenance landscapes.

 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 4 feet tall. 4 - 6 feet wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Adaptable, Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Sun, Good for Beginners, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Low Maintenance, Medium, Nativar, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site
Bloom Period September to October
Flower Color Pink
Foliage Color Green
 

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Pricing and Availability History

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

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