Bright blue flowers & shapely blue-green leaves make this one of the best end-of-season bloomers. Smooth aster tends to remain upright when flowering which also adds to its suitability for formal landscapes. This is a fantastic, showy pollinator plant for the end of the season. It is fairly easy to distinguish from other asters because of its smooth, hairless leaves that clasp at the base and appear to have a bluish/grayish tint. While deer will certainly browse on smooth aster, this typically doesn't affect survival unless browsing is relentless. Trimming the plant a few times during the growing season (similar to occasional deer browse) will promote branching and more flowers.
Uses: bees, butterflies
Bloom time: September - October
Height: 20 to 30 inches
Space: 16 to 20 inches
Sun: Full sun to light shade
Moisture: Dry to average