Asters: Top Butterfly-Attracting Perennials for Fall

Gorgeous native plants with clouds of frilly blooms and cheerful, easy-going nature, the Aster may be an old-fashioned perennial, but it’s been a garden standard for a hundred years for good reason!

Also known as Michaelmas Daisy for their tendency to bloom around the autumn equinox, they are beloved for their late summer and autumn color and their ability to draw pollinators galore!

The name Aster comes from a Greek word that means "star", and the flower's heads are comprised of hundreds of blooms on a mound of fine-textured foliage! Featuring 250 species in North America, these are highly adaptable plants and extremely cold-hardy! Forming airy mounds with lots of branching and finely textured lance-shaped tiny leaves, they look like green mist in the landscape and are loved for that textural aspect throughout the garden!

Amazing Asters
Landscape Use
Pollinator Favorites
Types of Aster
Aster Care & Pruning
Grown Your Own Today!

All About Amazing Asters!

Many varieties of Aster grow into a dome-shaped mound all spring and summer! These herbaceous perennials bloom later in the season, extending your flower enjoyment often right up until the first mild frost!

The clouds of tiny blooms feature hundreds of fine-textured flowers with a fringe of slender, straight rays of petals, radiating around a cheerful center - similar to that of a Daisy! These members of the Sunflower family, these rays surround colorful centers that have loads of pollen and nectar for pollinators!

The blooms that smother these plants form at the ends of each of the multiple dense branches. Displayed in the late summer and through the fall, just when other flowers are beginning to fade!

Incredibly cold-hardy and even heat-tolerant, most of these perennials thrive in chilly USDA growing zones 3 and 4, all the way up to hot hardiness zones 8 and 9!

Drought, salt, and occasional wet soil tolerant
Deer and rabbits do not prefer the taste!
Attracts butterflies and bees, hummingbirds, and even songbirds!
Late summer through autumn flowers
Fast growers!

How to Use Asters in the Landscape

Use these cheerful blooms in borders, Rock Gardens, Children’s Sensory Gardens, or in any sunny area that needs some color! With a tidy, mounding habit, these are ideal along the edge of garden beds or used as spillers and fillers in containers! Foundation plantings and front-of-the-border garden plants, the dwarf and low-growing varieties of Aster are perfect to ease the transition between lawn and garden!

Very versatile plants, many are tolerant of any kind of well-drained soil and tolerate moderate to low moisture. So they’re easy and tough plants en masse and in rows along sidewalks, sunny driveways, and that ‘hell-strip’ along the road!

Any garden becomes a Pollinator garden with these nectar and pollen-rich blooms! Extend the bloom time of plants in a cottage garden and perennial border to enjoy color and butterflies right through the first frost in many cases!

Since the native varieties like the Smooth Aster and New England Aster are wildflowers, any naturalized planting, prairie garden, and butterfly garden are perfect locations for these hardy herbaceous perennials! You will even enjoy Asters as cut flowers on your kitchen table!

Perfect for ‘Flying Flowers’!

As mentioned, these are vital nectar resources for pollinators! Especially Monarch Butterflies that are getting ready for fall and migration, and need that boost of nutrition late in the season! Pearl Crescent Butterfly caterpillars use New England Aster as a host plant and food source for their larvae!

Since they have dozens to hundreds of blooms on a single plant plus such an extended bloom time, we’re sure you’ll enjoy parking a bench or chair by your bank of Asters just to watch the butterflies flutter and bees buzz around their new habitat you’ve created for them!

The native varieties even have some seeds that feed songbirds, too! Unfortunately, those seeds that some natives have spread a bit too well into the landscape can jump their garden borders. That’s why Nature Hills has created Plant Sentry™, which helps us comply with all local and state regulations for potentially invasive plants.

Types of Asters

The native Smooth Aster is the original lavender flowering ornamental with clouds of tiny blooms and airy, fine-textured leaves on loose, informal plants! These natives are so easy-care and look gorgeous doing it! A similar and improved version of this native is the New England Aster with its larger flowers and orangy yellow centers, bigger blooms, taller stems, and all the carefree ease of its native cousin!

The easy native blooms of the New England Aster have a vibrant cultivar called Purple Dome that will brighten any wildflower garden and cutting garden with their lovely deep purple hue!

The big bold blooms of the KICKIN® Aster line have loads of flowers on compact domed mounds and feature brilliant, saturated color! Likewise, the Alma Potschke Aster features vibrant, rosy-pink blooms and matching centers! These cheerful blossoms would look great planted alongside the purple semi-double blossoms of the Professor Kippenburg Aster!

The tiny double-petalled Alert Dwarf Aster is an eye-popping burst of color in vivid magenta, packed in a tiny plant, barely 12-15 inches tall and wide! Just like the diminutive Woods Aster Series, which includes rosy Pink, vibrant Purple, and periwinkle Blue forms! Growing only a foot high and about 2 feet wide, they're sure to light up your fall border gardens and porch pots with lovely color!

You’ll enjoy weeks to months of blooms and butterflies - regardless of which variety you choose! Available in a variety of colors, these sunny blooms are so cheerful! With this variety of choices, we’re sure you can find a plant for almost any-sized garden!

The best part of these incredible ornamental flowering plants is that they are reliable perennials that come back year after year without fail!

Caring For Your Asters!

Caring for these carefree perennial plants is quite easy if you follow just a few simple tips and procedures.

It is best to plant it in the spring, after the first frost. But you can plant successfully any time!
Plant in almost any kind of well-drained soil
Best exposed to full sun and light shade - full sun for the most blooms
Divide if needed, every 3-4 years in the early spring or fall

Native Asters need average to low moisture and are drought-tolerant and Xeric plants, while other modern Asters need moist to average moisture conditions. Even though most Asters are drought-resistant, they all need regular watering in the summer.

Water in the mornings and avoid wetting the leaves since this plant is susceptible to leaf fungus and powdery mildew when in a poor air circulation location, or the leaves remain consistently wet from sprinklers and excess water.

Provide moderate moisture throughout the summer heat and dry seasons
A spring application of fertilizer is best as soon as you see new growth

Pruning / Pinching Back Asters

One important chore that’s needed for these low-maintenance tender perennial plants is that they really look their very best with an annual pruning (or pinching back).

If you want a thick, bushy plant with a full blanket of blooms, cut all stems to half their size in early to mid-June. Doing this to the entire plant evenly encourages dense branching and lots more blooms!

This little bit of pruning and care will keep your Asters in a neat and tidy, mounded, rounded size and retain that well-known domed shape. Asters make great plants to leave uncut for the winter to catch and sculpt the snow, then in early spring, cut all stems to the soil just as it starts to grow.

Grow The Incredible Aster!

Check out these unusual old-fashioned flowers today and be sure to include one or more in your own garden! Soon you’ll enjoy loads of flowers for your vases, for your late-season enjoyment, for planters, and of course - for your butterflies!

Let NatureHills.com ship your frilly garden upgrades today and find out what the hype about Asters is all about! We’re sure your pollinators will thank you!

Happy Planting!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are asters annuals or perennials?

Asters are herbaceous perennials that reliably return year after year, thriving across a wide range of USDA hardiness zones from 3 all the way through 9. They form attractive mounding habits throughout spring and summer before delivering their signature clouds of blooms from late summer right up until the first frost. Browse our selection at Nature Hills to find the right aster variety for your specific growing zone and garden style.

Do butterflies really prefer asters over other garden flowers?

Asters are exceptional butterfly magnets, and their late summer through fall bloom time makes them especially valuable when many other nectar sources are fading. The flower heads are packed with hundreds of individual blooms loaded with pollen and nectar, giving pollinators an abundant and reliable food source right when they need it most. Beyond butterflies, asters also draw bees, hummingbirds, and even songbirds to the garden. Plant asters in a sunny border or container and pair them with other late-season bloomers to create a pollinator haven that stays active until the first frost.

What colors do aster flowers come in?

While the article does not specify every color available, asters are well known for coming in a wide range of shades including purple, lavender, pink, white, red, and blue, typically with bright yellow centers. The cheerful center disk is a consistent feature across varieties and serves as a key attractant for pollinators. Browse the aster selection at naturehills.com to find the specific colors and varieties best suited to your garden and hardiness zone.

How much sun do asters need to bloom well?

Asters perform best in full sun, which means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. These adaptable plants thrive across a wide range of climates, from USDA zones 3 through 9, and will reward a sunny location with their signature clouds of blooms from late summer right through the first frost. For the most prolific flowering, choose a spot with morning sun and good air circulation, and avoid heavily shaded areas where blooms will be sparse and plants may become leggy.

Are dwarf asters as cold-hardy as standard varieties?

Yes, dwarf asters are just as cold-hardy as their larger counterparts, with most varieties thriving in USDA zones 3 through 9. Like standard asters, the compact forms handle both frigid winters and summer heat with ease, making them reliable performers across a wide range of climates. Dwarf varieties are especially useful along bed edges and in containers, so plant them in a sunny spot and enjoy their late summer through fall blooms right up until the first frost.

Can asters survive dry spells without extra watering?

Asters are notably drought-tolerant once established, making them a resilient choice for gardens that experience periodic dry spells. These tough perennials also handle salt and occasional wet soil, thriving across a wide range of conditions from USDA zones 3 through 9. That said, during extended dry periods, especially in the heat of late summer when they are building up to their fall bloom, a deep watering will help ensure the best flower display. Mulch around the base of your plants to retain soil moisture and reduce how often you need to water during dry stretches.

When do asters bloom in the garden?

Asters typically bloom in late summer and continue through autumn, often right up until the first mild frost, making them one of the most valuable sources of late-season color in the garden. They are sometimes called Michaelmas Daisy because of their tendency to bloom around the autumn equinox in September. This late blooming window is especially important in zones 3 through 9, where most other perennials are beginning to fade by that time. Plant asters alongside summer bloomers to ensure a seamless transition of color from midsummer all the way through fall.

How do you keep asters blooming longer into fall?

Asters are naturally long bloomers that extend your garden color from late summer right up until the first mild frost, and most varieties thrive in USDA zones 3 through 9. To maximize their bloom period, deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage the plant to keep producing new buds rather than setting seed. Planting in a location with full sun and well-drained soil will also help sustain strong, consistent flowering through the season. For the best results, choose varieties suited to your hardiness zone and give them a light trim in early summer to encourage a fuller, more branching habit that produces even more blooms come fall.

Can you grow asters in containers or pots?

Yes, asters grow well in containers and pots, making them a versatile choice for patios, decks, and entryways. Their tidy mounding habit makes them especially effective as spillers and fillers, adding late summer through fall color right up until the first frost. Choose dwarf or low-growing varieties for the best results in containers, and make sure to select a pot with good drainage since asters prefer consistent moisture without waterlogged roots. Plant in a sunny spot and water regularly through the growing season to keep them blooming strong into autumn.

Should you cut asters back after they finish blooming?

Yes, cutting asters back after they finish blooming is a good practice that keeps plants tidy and encourages healthy growth the following season. Once blooms fade in late fall, cut the stems back to just a few inches above the ground before winter sets in. In colder zones like 3 and 4, this also helps protect the crown from harsh temperatures. Leave the trimmings in place briefly, as the seed heads can attract songbirds before you do your final cleanup.

Asters - The Butterfly-Magnet Your Garden Has Been Missing!