Aster October Skies (Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies')
ASS-ter ob-lonj-ih-FOE-lee-us 'October Skies'

Deciduous Perennial in the Asteraceae Family
A compact, mounding aromatic aster with sticky, herb-scented foliage and masses of violet-blue, yellow-centered flowers from August into September.

Aster oblongifolius (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) October Skies is a low, dense-branching selection of aromatic aster prized for its tidy mounded habit and heavy late-season bloom. From August through September it is covered in one-inch, daisy-like flowers with violet-blue petals and a bright yellow center disk, drawing bees and butterflies at a time when few other perennials are still flowering. The blue-green foliage is sticky to the touch and releases a distinctive herbal aroma when brushed or rubbed, a trait shared by the wider aromatic aster group and one that makes the plant naturally less appealing to deer and rabbits. It performs best in full sun but still puts on a respectable floral display in part sun.

Pros

  • Vibrant late-season color and pollinator joy when other plants are fading
  • Variety of sizes and colors
  • Several native Asters are available
  • Cold-hardy and reliable in Chicagoland

Cons

  • Can become leggy and flop over in formal gardens without regular pruning or early-season pinching back
  • Short bloom window
  • Needs full sun
  • Some types can self-seed aggressively
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 24 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Extended Bloom Time, Fall Color, Fall interest, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Medium, Mounded, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Popular For Fall, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers
Bloom Period August to September
Flower Color Violet-Blue, Yellow Center
 

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/16 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 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.

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!