Please, Pardon My Big Aster!

Geeze it's bigger then ever!

In spite of the drought, this tall drink of water has put on a good show, again.

It makes me smile each September when it begins to bloom~

When a dear gardening friend shared Aster tataricus with me, she warned that it spread by rhizomes and that I might be sorry. I have never been sorry. It's done exactly what I hoped~Created an attractive swath of flowers late in the season that are also a magnet for pollinators. From early September until heavy frosts in November its blooms are covered with bees of all kinds, skippers and butterflies. Local monarchs love it!

My friend's warning should be kept in mind~Tatarian aster is an aggressive colonizer.* Especially, in moist, rich soil. By no stretch of the imagination does Clay and Limestone have moist, rich soil. But, in a year with ample rainfall, this aster will increase. It's planted at the base of an oak tree, with stone paths confining it on two sides and equally assertive native plants on the others. Like many colonizing plants, it's best to divide it every few years to keep its vigor and to keep it in check. I move the divisions to other spots in the garden that need a pop of pretty lavender flowers in the fall.

If you think you want a flowering plant that's tall and aggressive; with large, abundant flat-topped clusters of lavender flower heads that bloom until frost; that attracts pollinators and is adored by monarchs; that has rather coarse looking, large basal leaves, slightly reminiscent of tobacco, then Aster tatarian is your guy! Plant him in the back of the border, or where ever you want to make a statement along with Joe Pye Weed, Verbena bonariensis or naturalized with native ex-asters and False Dragonhead and let them duke it out!

False Dragonhead and Tatarian Aster duking it out

The Facts, Ma'am, just the facts:

Zones 3 to 9
Asteraceae Family
Native No
Native range: Siberia
Perennial
Cultivars available
3 to 8 feet tall
2 to 5 foot spread
Blooms September to Frost
Violet or Lavender flowers with yellow center
Medium shade to full sun
Non native plant
Moist soil (will be aggressive) *Alert* In my garden, it's not aggressive; but, it might be in yours.


Gail

I've written about Tatarian aster before~go here