Plotwright
Home
Aromatic aster
Habit (mature) · aarongunnar / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Limited coverage
Aromatic aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
A native central + eastern US perennial with intensely aromatic foliage when crushed and dense clouds of small blue-purple flowers in late fall — often the latest-blooming aster in the eastern flora. Drought + clay tolerant; among the toughest native fall pollinator plants.
Native: 28 US states
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: broad (83/100)
Pollinator
Border
Light
Full sun
Water
Moderate water
Mature size
18-36" tall · 24" apart
Hardy in zones
3a-8b
brutally cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Hot
cool to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
Yes
Related products
Sponsored
Heat and sun protection
Shade cloth, shade hoops, cooling mulch, and heat-stress monitoring tools.
Search heat and sun protection on Amazon
Drainage and aeration
Perlite, pumice, raised-bed mix, aerators, and drainage-focused containers.
Search drainage and aeration on Amazon
Transplanting and establishment
Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.
Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon
Pest and disease monitoring
Sticky traps, hand lenses, sprayers, disease-monitoring tools, and pest barriers.
Search pest and disease monitoring on Amazon
Propagation
Rooting hormone, propagation trays, cutting tools, division knives, and labels.
Search propagation on Amazon
Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
A documented larval host for the Pearl crescent — caterpillars feed on its foliage before becoming the next generation.
Wildlife relationships
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/aromatic-aster
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY 4.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
Plotwright
Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.
support@arteractive.co
© 2026 Plotwright