North Shore Plant Club
Showy Aster (Aster spectabilis)
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| Deciduous Perennial Low, Spreading in the Asteraceae Family | |
A rare, sand-loving native prized for having some of the biggest flowers of any wild aster - big lavender-blue, yellow-centered blooms on a low, spreading clump from late summer into fall. |
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Aster spectabilis (Eurybia spectabilis), commonly known as Showy Aster or Purple Wood-Aster, is a low, spreading perennial native to sandy pine barrens and dry woodlands along the Atlantic coast. True to its name, it produces some of the largest flowerheads in the aster family, up to 1.5 inches across, in bright lavender-blue with vivid yellow centers, blooming from August into October. It forms a low, rhizomatous groundcover on stiff, rough stems, spreading gently through dry, sandy soil. |
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Pros
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Cons
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| Why Like | In its native pine barrens and dry, sandy woodlands along the Atlantic coast, Showy Aster is an important late-season nectar source, drawing butterflies, bees, and even hummingbirds when few other plants are still blooming. Its rhizomatous roots help stabilize loose, sandy soil. |
| Highlights | Noted for having some of the biggest flowerheads of any aster species, this low, spreading native is a standout in a dry, sandy garden where few other perennials thrive. |
Plant Data | |
| Mature Size | 12 - 24 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide. |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Sun Exposure | Partial Shade - Full Sun |
| Moisture Tolerance |
Dry - Medium: Tolerates average to dry moisture and is notably drought-tolerant once established; occasionally found in slightly wetter sites but performs best without consistently wet soil. |
| Zones | 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F) |
| Tags | Adaptable, Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, Dry, Full Sun, Good for Rock Garden, Good for Rocky Soil, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Medium, Naturalizing, Non-Allergenic, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Shade Tolerant |
| Bloom Period | August To October |
| Flower Color | Bright Lavender-Blue, Yellow Center |
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Pricing and Availability HistoryClick a label to toggle visibility for that size
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We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
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.
The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.
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Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.
To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.
Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!
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.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!