Sky Blue Aster is a rhizomatous perennial that typically grows 2-3’ tall. Daisy-like flowers (.5 to 1” across) with blue to blue-violet rays and yellow center disks bloom in many-flowered panicles in September and October. Ovate-lanceolate to oblong lower basal leaves (to 5” long) are rough-hairy, often serrate and cordate at the base. Lanceolate upper leaves are much smaller, narrower and sessile. Flowers are attractive to butterflies and other beneficial insects such as small bees, flies, small to medium-sized butterflies, skippers, and wasps.
Sky Blue Aster prefers full or partial sun and can grow in many different types of soil as long as it is well-drained. The leaves are smaller when heading upward along the stem, and are typically heart-shaped at the base. Easily grown in average, dry to medium soils in full sun to light shade. Also tolerates drought. Sky Blue Aster spreads by rhizomes and self-seeding.