Native / Warm season

New England Aster

Back-of-border native perennial for fall pollinator support.

Grown for late-season nectar and habitat.

Seed spacing and maturity

Days to maturity
365
Germination temperature
60-75F
Seed depth
0.125 inches
Spacing
24 inches
Row spacing
30 inches
Start method
Direct sow

Frost-date timing

Direct sow
14 days before last frost
Fall planting
10 weeks before first frost

Action plan

Can I plant this now?
Use your local last-frost, first-frost, and soil-temperature checks before treating this crop as plantable today.
Start indoors or direct sow?
Direct sow into the final bed when the soil temperature, seed depth, and moisture are ready.
How much space?
24 inches in-row spacing, 30 inches between rows, and 0.125 inch seed depth.
Best companions?
Use this as part of a diverse flowering or herb planting, and treat companion claims as site-specific rather than guaranteed pest control.
Common failure modes?
Tall plants may need Chelsea-chop pruning or support in rich soil. Moderate moisture in year one. Average to moist soil.

Growing profile

Sun
Full sun
Water
Moderate moisture in year one.
Soil
Average to moist soil.
Watch
Tall plants may need Chelsea-chop pruning or support in rich soil.
  • native
  • late-season
  • pollinators
  • perennial

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Related varieties

Source: Xerces pollinator-friendly native plant lists