New England Aster 'Septemberrubin' is a Missouri native perennial that erupts into vibrant bloom from late summer through fall, painting gardens with purple-rayed flowers centered in gold. This stout, leafy cultivar grows 36-48 inches tall with a robust upright habit, thriving in zones 4-8 where it tolerates clay soil and moderate moisture. The daisy-like blooms (to 1.5 inches across) arrive on rough, hairy stems lined with lance-shaped leaves, making it equally valuable for cutting and for feeding hungry butterflies and birds as seasons shift.
2
Full Sun
Moderate
4-8
48in H x 24in W
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Moderate
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Purple rays with yellow centers bloom prolifically from August through November, creating a late-season spectacle when many gardens fade. Rough-textured, lance-shaped leaves clasp sturdy stems, and the plant handles clay soil gracefully, a trait rare among asters. Deer leave it alone, pollinators flock to it, and a single plant densifies into a full, leafy specimen without fussy maintenance.
New England Aster serves as a naturalized planting in rain gardens and meadow-style landscapes where its tall growth and prolific bloom anchor late-season color. The flowers cut beautifully for fall arrangements, holding their form and color in the vase. Birds and butterflies depend on it as a critical nectar source when few other blooms remain, making it valuable for pollinator gardens and wildlife habitats.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow indoors 8 weeks before your last frost, keeping the soil at 65-75°F. A period of cold stratification may increase germination. Expect sprouts in 14-21 days. You can also sow in spring indoors under the same temperature conditions.
Harden off seedlings before moving them outdoors after the last frost date. Space transplants 2 inches apart in well-drained soil enriched with 1 inch of compost.
Sow in spring to early summer, or winter sow into pots in the shade. Cover seeds with a thin layer of clean sand and protect with a wire screen to keep out mice and voles. Check for moisture regularly.
Pinch back stems several times before mid-July to control height and encourage bushier growth, which may reduce the need for staking. Be aware that pinching delays flowering. After blooms fade, you can cut plants to the ground to prevent unwanted self-seeding if desired, though in optimal conditions they will readily self-sow in the garden.
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“Symphyotrichum novae-angliae occurs naturally throughout Missouri in moist prairies, meadows, thickets, and stream banks. This perennial has roots deep in North American ecology, and the 'Septemberrubin' cultivar represents a refined selection from this native species, bred to highlight the variety's late-season color and vigor. The species and its cultivars have transitioned from wild wetland plants into garden staples, preserving the character of native aster populations while adapting them to landscape use.”