Tatarian Aster (Aster tataricus 'Jindai')
ASS-ter tah-TAR-ih-kus 'Jindai'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Spreading in the Asteraceae Family
The latest-blooming aster in the collection, with clusters of lavender-blue, yellow-centered flowers on sturdy, rarely-staked stems from September into fall, just as most other perennials wind down.

Jindai is a compact selection of Tatarian aster (Aster tataricus), a tall, rhizomatous perennial native to moist meadows and mountain areas of Siberia, China, Korea, and Japan. It was discovered by plantsman Rick Darke and Skip March at the Jindai Botanical Gardens in Tokyo, and has since become one of the most widely grown forms of the species in North American gardens. Compared to the species, Jindai stays more compact and sturdy, typically 3 to 4 feet tall, with stiffly upright stems that rarely need staking even when grown in full sun. From September into fall it produces broad, flat-topped clusters of small, lavender-blue, daisy-like flowers with bright yellow centers, among the latest asters to bloom, often continuing right up to the first hard frost.

Pros

  • One of the latest asters to bloom, often continuing into November
  • Sturdy, upright stems that rarely need staking
  • Excellent late-season nectar source for bees and butterflies
  • Deer and rabbit resistant

Cons

  • Spreads aggressively by rhizome in rich, consistently moist soil
  • Can become overly dominant without occasional division
  • Coarse foliage offers little ornamental interest before bloom
Highlights Blooms later than almost any other aster, often into November, providing a valuable last burst of nectar for bees, butterflies, and migrating pollinators just as the rest of the garden is going dormant.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 4 feet tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Partial Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Drought tolerant once established; avoid soggy or waterlogged sites, which encourage overly vigorous spread.
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Disease Resistant, Dry, Fall Color, Fall interest, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Cut Flowers, Medium, Partial Sun, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Rabbit Resistant
Bloom Period September to October
Flower Color Lavender-Blue, Yellow Center
Foliage Color Green
 

In The News
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Ornamental grasses and other late-season bloomers make good companions, echoing its own fall-blooming habit and giving its coarse foliage some textural contrast earlier in the season.

Photos of This with...

Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2024 : 07/02 - 09/08
2023 : 06/21 - 09/10

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

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