Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)

Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)

Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)

Taxonomy:

Family: Asteraceae (Aster family)

Genus: Symphyotrichum

Species: oblongifolium

Common names: Aromatic Aster, Oblong-leaved Aster

There’s something enigmatic about Aromatic Aster. It’s one of those late-season native plants that refuses to fade quietly. Just when most wildflowers are shutting down for the year, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium bursts into bloom, covering itself in hundreds of violet-lavender stars. Each flower centers around the golden capitulum, glowing even brighter as the days shorten.

Despite its name, Aromatic Aster doesn’t owe its fragrance to the flowers—it’s the foliage that carries a subtle, resinous, almost herbal scent when brushed or crushed. This aromatic quality, combined with its dense, mounded form, makes it a standout in native gardens and along sunny borders. Certainly, it would create a lovely, musky perfume.

This species thrives in dry, sunny sites—think open slopes, roadsides, and rocky soil where others might struggle. Its deep root system allows it to withstand drought and poor soils while providing nectar for migrating butterflies and late-season pollinators. The sturdy stems rarely flop, and it pairs beautifully with native grasses like Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and the Mountain Mints (Pycnanthemum spp.) for a vibrant fall display.

If you plant just one late-blooming wildflower, make it this one. Aromatic Aster is pure joy in October—tough, beautiful, and full of life when the rest of the garden is fading. Analogous to the Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata), these late colorful blooms are where you’ll see the last bumblebees on cool November mornings. Basically, the bumblebees are very sleepy each morning until it warms up adequately.