Asteraceae
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Tough-as-nails perennial built for nearly every U.S. Climate
Haeferl via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_3)
About this plant
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, commonly called New England Aster, is a perennial that belongs in the garden through reliability. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, the same sprawling clan as sunflowers and daisies, and it carries that family's signature look: a dense ring of ray petals surrounding a compact central disc. What sets it apart is its extraordinary hardiness: it is rated for USDA Zones 1a through 13b, which means it can overwinter almost anywhere in the continental United States and beyond.
As a perennial, it dies back to the ground each winter and returns on its own the following season, no replanting required. That self-renewing habit makes it one of the most low-maintenance choices a beginner can make. The genus Symphyotrichum is native to North America, and this species in particular has a long history in gardens across the country. With only about ten minutes of care per week and medium water needs, it fits easily into even the busiest schedule. Plant it outdoors in a spot that suits its light preferences and let the seasons do the rest.
Bloom
Nikolai Bulykin via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_4)
Gallery
Nikolai Bulykin via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_4)
Gallery
Ryan Hodnett via Wikimedia Commons (cc by_sa_4)
Step by step
Find a spot with enough light for its needs. Plant it outdoors, ideally sheltered from the harshest afternoon wind.
Any good all-purpose potting mix or well-drained garden soil will do. Give each plant enough room for its mature spread. Crowding causes more problems than undersizing the bed. Water it in gently once it's settled.
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, roughly once a week in summer. Soak the soil, then let it breathe before the next round.
This one is very forgiving. A balanced all-purpose fertiliser at the start of the growing season is plenty, and you can skip a month without harm. Plan on 10 minutes a week of hands-on care: watering, a quick trim, checking for pests.
Expect flowers in August to October. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more, and take a minute to notice them. This is why you planted it.
Year at a glance
Approximate for a temperate North American zone. Shift earlier the further south you garden, later the further north.
Jan
January: Rest
Dormant
Feb
February: Rest
Dormant
Mar
March: Wake up
New growth
Apr
April: Tend
Routine care
May
May: Tend
Routine care
Jun
June: Tend
Routine care
Jul
July: Tend
Routine care
Aug
August: Bloom
Flowers expected
Sep
September: Bloom
Flowers expected
Oct
October: Bloom
Flowers expected
Nov
November: Wind down
Prep for dormancy
Dec
December: Rest
Dormant
Recommended supplies
#adWe may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Every product is curated by hand and chosen because it actually helps with this plant, not because it pays the highest rate.
A late-season essential: deep purple daisies from September through hard frost when almost nothing else is blooming. One of the last nectar sources for migrating monarchs and the last pollen source for native bees before winter.
Pet & people safety
At Bloomwise, we only publish toxicity information when a human has checked it against a primary source. Until that happens, treat this plant as potentially harmful to pets and children: don't let it be eaten or chewed, and consult the ASPCA or your vet if anyone does. You can also search the ASPCA's public toxic-plant database below.
Bloomwise is not a substitute for veterinary or medical advice. Every line above comes from a hand-verified reference.
Frequently asked
New England Aster is hardy in USDA zones 3a to 8b. If your winter lows fall outside that range, grow it in a container you can bring indoors, or treat it as an annual.
Water about once a week in summer, adjusting for rainfall. Soak the soil, then let it breathe before watering again.
New England Aster prefers four to six hours of sun, ideally morning light.
We haven't verified toxicity information for New England Aster. Treat it as potentially harmful and keep it out of reach of pets and children. If a pet eats any part of it, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Yes, this is a forgiving plant that tolerates inconsistent watering and the occasional missed feeding. A good choice for a first garden.
People also planted
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Flat-topped flower clusters that tough out winters from Zone 1a to 13b
Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Tall, sun-chasing blooms that thrive from Alaska to the tropics
Common Zinnia
Zinnia elegans
Blackeyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Rugged, sun-loving perennial that earns its keep in nearly any yard
Sources
Plant facts on this page come from a blend of public-domain and open-licensed datasets: Biodiversity Heritage Library (historical botanical illustrations, public domain), USDA PLANTS (taxonomy, public domain), GBIF (occurrence and taxonomy, CC-BY 4.0), OpenFarm (crop guides, CC-BY-SA 3.0), and Open-Meteo (climate and hardiness lookup, CC-BY 4.0). Toxicity records come from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and the Pet Poison Helpline; every row is hand-verified against a primary reference.
