Smooth Aster
Aster laevis
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Smooth 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 |
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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
Smooth 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 RateMedium
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Pollinator Friendly
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer, Fall

Growing Zones 4-8
Need some lovely flower power for your native wildflower garden? Sweet, daisy-shaped blossoms are a clear periwinkle blue with bright yellow eyes that deepen in color as the season goes on. The profuse and cheerful blooms of the Smooth Aster (Aster laevis) are just what you need for late summer colors that keeps going until frost! A dynamic pollinator plant with vital nectar resources, you will absolutely adore having it in your landscape!
The stem is tough, but this variety has smooth leaves. Like other Asters, it still reads as a fine-textured plant well-suited for the middle of flower beds. These faster-growing perennials may not bloom right away, but when they do - they do bloom with abandon! Filling out in cheerful clouds of flowers just as other plants are calling it quits! Not just long-lasting, Aster blooms completely cover the plant from late summer until frost. It is a definite bee and butterfly and hummingbird attractor, even feeding songbirds when left to go to seed.
Definitely one of nature's incredible shows, and so interesting to watch. Plan to add comfy seating nearby. It grows tall, so can handle a spot near the back of a border. Growing to about 2-3 feet high and about 18-24 inches wide, these tough perennials are xeric, incredibly cold-hardy down to USDA zone 4, and deer-resistant! Featuring fast growth and finely textured green leaves, Aster plants look fantastic even when not in bloom! The airy clouds of green foliage are so adaptable and carefree, that they require minimal maintenance to keep them looking great! Simply pinch back the tips of the plant in mid-July, you'll keep it a bit bushier and more compact.
Planting and Application:
Asters are a host plant for the Pearl Crescent Butterflies larvae, and feed hungry bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects with their generous amounts of late-season nectar! It will also be absolutely covered with butterflies and pollinators from dawn through dusk. Try planting a completely native flower garden, naturalized prairie or wildflower border garden. Nature Hills offers many varieties of Aster to bring gorgeous blue tones to your fall landscape. Mix together for a special collection but be sure to include this hardy selection. It's been known to bloom all the way into November!
In the garden bed and border, these are light and airy perennials to add periwinkle, mist-like color and easy care resilience to cottage borders and cut flower gardens alike! Adding just one or two turns any garden into a pollinator garden! It would be fun to use this native as a filler in a large container garden. Smooth Aster is a great choice to include anywhere in the sunny parts of your gardens! It's a tough, pretty native wildflower that grows in dry prairies and open woods.
- Periwinkle Blue Daisy-Like Blooms & Yellow Centers
- Blooms Late Summer Through Frost
- Attracts Butterflies & Bees!
- Easy-Care & Adaptable Native Wildflowers
- Airy Texture For Perennial Gardens, Pollinator Beds & Cottage Borders
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Best grown in full sun, native Asters can take some part sun and afternoon shade in the hottest of its favored USDA growing zones of 4 through 8. Plant these herbaceous perennials in a moderate soil range with good drainage. Xeric plants, native Asters are tolerant of lower moisture environments once established, but should not be allowed to become extremely dry during the 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 to Low Moisture & Well-Drained Soils
- Pinch Back in Late Spring/Early Summer
- Rust, Disease & Deer Resistant
Order your fall garden upgrades and have them delivered to your doorstep with the beautiful native Smooth Aster from NatureHills.com! Please understand that we must comply with local and state regulations. Sometimes these plants grow a little too well in certain areas and are considered invasive. That's why we've created Plant Sentry™, which helps us comply with all local and state regulations for invasive plants.