Calico aster is a native North American perennial that brings late-season color when most gardens are fading. This herbaceous plant, scientifically known as Symphyotrichum lateriflorum 'Lady in Black', grows 24-36 inches tall and wide, producing showy flowers from September through October that attract butterflies and other pollinators. Hardy in zones 4-8, it thrives in full sun with moderate water and minimal maintenance, making it a reliable choice for gardeners seeking extended bloom time without fuss.
24
Full Sun
Moderate
4-8
36in H x 36in W
—
Moderate
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This plant blooms when the garden desperately needs it most, carrying showy flowers deep into fall as temperatures drop. Native from Quebec to Florida and across to Texas, calico aster grows easily in moist, well-drained soil and requires almost no fussing once established. The 'Lady in Black' cultivar delivers the reliable performance of a species aster with cultivated refinement, attracting butterflies in September and October when few other flowers are still blooming.
Calico aster serves as a vital late-season nectar source in gardens and landscapes. The showy flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators when few other plants are blooming in September and October, making it invaluable for supporting pollinator populations heading into winter. It naturally fits woodland-edge gardens and mixed perennial borders where its modest height and spreading habit fill gaps left by summer bloomers.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Stems can be pinched back in late spring to early summer if shorter, bushier plants are desired. This encourages branching and denser growth while reducing the mature height. Taller plants may need some support as they mature; consider subtle staking for tall specimens.
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“Calico aster is native to eastern and central North America, ranging from Quebec and Ontario west to Minnesota and south through Florida and Texas. The plant has carried many common names throughout horticultural history: side-flowering aster, starved aster, and white woodland aster. In recent decades, botanists reclassified it from the genus Aster to Symphyotrichum, though gardeners have continued using the familiar 'aster' common name. The 'Lady in Black' cultivar represents the modern selection of this wild native, preserving its vigor and autumn reliability while offering refined garden performance.”