Sapphire Aster
Aster 'Sapphire'
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Sapphire Aster - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
| From | To | S&H |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
| $20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
| $50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
| $70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
| $100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
| $130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
| $150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Sapphire Aster highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateFast
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Flower Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Pollinator Required
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer, Fall
Growing Zones 4-8
The fluffy and finely textured Sapphire Aster plant (Aster 'Sapphire') is a fantastic selection to brighten your late-season garden with unexpected bright color! Featuring large, fluffy, lilac-blue flowers with cheerful yellow centers, these cultivars of the hardy native selection bloom with abandon from August through September!
With its perfectly clean, compact, dark green foliage forming rounded mounds of leaves, they are great as low-growing backdrops and accents all growing season. Then in the late summer, enjoy these dome-shaped mounds as they explode into lovely clear colors! Bees and butterflies adore these blossoms for a late-season nectar resource!
Known as Bushy Asters, these are disease-resistant, low-maintenance perennials, and feature improved disease resistant foliage, these Asters have retained the family adaptability, deer resistance, and cold-hardiness while sporting increased heat tolerance! Thriving throughout most of the US in both heat and chill throughout USDA growing zones 4 through 8!
Planting and Application:
Growing barely over a foot tall and two feet wide, these space-saving perennials are fantastic additions to established landscapes and dress up existing gardens with ease! Tuck a few along the front of the garden as edging or along your foundation plantings as facer plants, gaining a late-season boost of color! Add to perennial and cottage borders to extend your bloom season and of course, any garden with a few Asters in it becomes a pollinator garden! Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies flock to these flowers for an end-of-season nectar resource!
Perfectly sized for containers and mixed-planters, you'll enjoy seasonal flowers in the latter parts of the year on your porch and patio! Small enough to mix among other perennials and porch pot accents, the tidy mounding form means they are equally lovely as specimen plants filling a pot all by themselves! Their adaptability and low-maintenance nature make these perennials ideal for mass plantings in tricky full sun areas!
- Fluffy Lilac Blue Blooms
- Stays Small & Tidy
- Attracts Pollinators Galore!
- Space-Saving Late-Season Color
- Edging, Facer Plants, Borders, Containers & En Masse
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Aster does require full sun, but can take some afternoon shade in the hottest of its favored growing zones. Plant these herbaceous perennials in a moderate soil range with good drainage that does not become extremely dry during the summer. Lower moisture needs once established, just water enough to help it establish as a new plant, and provide supplemental water in the heat of summer. Pinching back the stem tips in late spring and early summer will produce denser growth and heavier blooming. This plant may be divided every few years in the spring.
- Full Sun
- Cold Hardy & Adaptable
- Moderate Moisture & Well-Drained Soils
- Pinch Back in Late Spring/Early Summer
- Rust, Disease & Deer Resistant
Woods Purple Aster looks great paired with Woods Blue and Woods Pink Asters, so don't forget to pick up a few while you're at it! Long-lasting flowers add a brilliant pop of color to a small, space-saving perennial! Don't wait, order an Aster Woods Purple for your summer gardening projects today and extend your growing season with the help of NatureHills.com!
