Aster laevis 'Bluebird' (Smooth Aster)

Tiny dark blue and off-white star-shaped flowers hold a yellow centre. Narrow green hairy leaves make a thick foliage. Moderate growth rate.

Blooms late summer to early fall
2-3 ft tall x 2-3 ft wide
HARDY to -40°F (-40°C)
Deer resistant
Attracts butterflies
Drought tolerant
Tolerant to juglone
Moderate salt tolerance

Vivid daisy-like flowers sporting rosy purple petals that surround a red-orange cone bloom on top of strong stems. Rapid growth rate.

Use as cut or dried flowers. Be sure to keep some flowers in the garden over winter, as the blackened heads provide cold-season garden interest, as well as food for finches and other winter birds.

Blooms mid-spring to summer
2-4 ft tall x 1-2 ft spread
Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Deer and rabbit resistant
Drought tolerant

Small yellow sunflower-like flowers with purple brown centres grow profusely on tall thin stems with sparse thin, dark green leaves. Moderate growth rate.

Blooms mid-summer to early fall
2-6 ft tall x 2 ft spread
Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
Deer and rabbit resistant
Drought tolerant

An abundance of silvery pink plumes that mature to fluffy silvery white rise above arching narrow blades of variegated green with thin white midribs that become a light shade of wheat in fall. Moderate growth rate. 

Blooms mid-spring  
HARDY to -20 °F (-28.9 °C)
6-8 ft tall x 2.5-3 ft spread
Drought tolerant
Tolerant to juglone
Salt tolerant
Deer and rabbit resistant

Bright yellow, brown cone, leaves covered with bristly hairs, moderate growth rate, blooms early summer to early fall, full sun to partial shade, 2-3 ft tall x 2-3 ft wide.

Purple-blue flowers, green, sharp-toothed foliage, blooms mid-summer to early fall, attracts butterflies, 4-6 ft high x 2-3 ft wide, full sun