Smooth Blue Aster - Complete Guide

[@marionkinio7781]

Your website and videos are amazing. Thanks for putting all that work into teaching us beginning gardeners. One of the best videos out there on UA-cam.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Marion! I'm very happy you are finding my videos & articles helpful. We'll keep putting it out!

[@christinegipple1207]

Agreed, @Marion Kinio! Excellent information here!

[@rev5774]

You should have 4.92 million subscribers, Joe because your videos - including this one - are simply outstanding. Thank you for helping me make my garden look better!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Robert! Best of luck on your garden!

[@TienTran-nm6ms]

Your videos are amazing. It's hard to find informative and complete guides on individual species. You've done a great job and I hope for more to come. Thank you!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Tien! It makes me happy that you appreciate them. I will be making plenty more. It just takes awhile, as I spend a decent amount of time putting them together and editing them.

[@penny1295]

@@growitbuildit keep up the fabulous job! We appreciate you!

[@anneperlmutter3775]

these grow all over the yard here in Boulder, CO, zone 5. Compacted clay, hot dry summers, no problem. Most successful native. I prop the ones growing in part sun when they start flopping, feels as tho they are crawling toward the sun, ha. Still bloom vigorously whether upright or prostrate. Excellent plants

[@growitbuildit]

Couldn't agree more Anne - I love my Asters. Keeping the deer and rabbits off of them is the biggest challenge - especially for this species. They do browse other Asters I grow, but not nearly as much as Smooth Blue.

[@christinegipple1207]

Wow I love asters and your video is very helpful and informative about what to do and what not to do.
I planted about 6 asters last summer and have only seen one starting to come up this year.
I appreciate you sharing what you’ve observed, and how you show the plant at varying stages. Plus it’s great to know what the plants attract, how high they grow, how to space them out, etc. thank you so much! Super helpful!

[@growitbuildit]

You are quite welcome Christine. I like to try to give all the info you could need to successfully grow one of these plants. After growing something for several years you start to learn a lot of nitty-gritty details that aren't written on the seed packet!

[@charlesburkhart800]

Zone 6, he said it! Thanks

[@growitbuildit]

Sorry for not saying this more often!

[@katiekane5247]

Hooray for our native asters! Can't have too many!

[@growitbuildit]

I couldn't agree more Katie!

[@joy186]

binging on your plant profile, your videos so informative ! I started some seeds of Aster, and I so look forward to growing them.

[@growitbuildit]

Excellent. I'm glad you are enjoying my videos

[@prairiehill]

Really enjoy these videos. Extremely informative. Appreciate focusing on individual plants. Thanks.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you - I appreciate the kind words. I'll keep putting them out as best I can (kind of my busy season for the next 6 months).

[@charliedarwin8481]

I love your videos - so clear and informative and your focus on native plants is unique and much appreciated.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Mr. Darwin! I appreciate it and will try to keep them coming. This is my busy season so to speak.

[@flowerpixel]

AGREE 💯

[@hobbitlady7568]

The bunnies love the young leaves you’re so right. I moved all my asters to my backyard right along/next to my house foundation and my dog seems to scare bunnies away enough that the asters finally grew large and bloomed wonderfully this year.

[@growitbuildit]

I had extra deer pressure this year. Or at least I seemed to. Mine are blooming now, but are only a couple feet tall. I wasn't able to keep up w/ Liquid Fence as well as I would've liked.

[@marikit_]

To all video documentation of purple blue aster on youtube this is my favourite. Good job sir!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Marikit!

[@anafindlay4036]

Great information on this amazing native .growing smooth blue aster for the first time.
Thank you 🐝

[@growitbuildit]

It's a great flower Ana - you will enjoy it!

[@truthofthematter9409]

The dried seed heads add another gorgeous sight of interest

[@growitbuildit]

They do look nice in the fall. They don't always last long, as one strong storm can send them flying. But they do look pretty while they are there.

[@whothellami]

Fantastic content - website and videos. Very thorough. Best of luck in all your future endeavours. Ps: Thank you for the honesty with respect to the deer and rabbits. It's been my experience that nurseries can be guilty of using the 'deer resistant' tag with reckless abandon.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much! I really do appreciate the kind words.
In regards to deer and rabbits I have found the in general they will eat almost any plant if it is young enough. Or, if the growth is new I've seen them eat it, only to avoid that plant a week or two later.
I've seen them take down cup plant when the foliage was tender, only to stay away once it matures a bit. Could it be that the taste changes, similar to how Pokeweed's toxicity changes as it ages? Or is it that the leaves aren't scratchy when young? I don't know. But, just an observation. The point is that we should be buying Liquid Fence by the gallon, and use it early in the season, and never stop on plants that do need protecting.

[@randc214]

Joe, your videos are fabulous! You give everything a new gardener needs to know in a practical way…Thank you!
I purchased some aster last fall with some mums thinking it was an annual. Thank goodness I was lazy and left them potted all winter only to find the aster survived! I now want to plant it in the ground as a permanent in my garden. The thing is it’s Pacific Aster…should I follow the same steps for the Smooth Blue Aster or is it a different process altogether?
Thanks again and looking forward to your response!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Jennifer - I had to look it up, but it should be the same. Full sun to partial sun, well-drained soil. Yours will spread by rhizomes, so new plants will sprout up from horizontal underground stems. Good luck and thank you for the kind words!

[@SMElder-iy6fl]

I love your meadow!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! It is quite beautiful throughout the year.

[@bluebowser3121]

I have sat here for hours watching your videos. I love how you format them and how knowledgeable you are. I hope you continue to pump out videos for this series. I'd also love to see you try out some Campions. I recently purchased some lychnis flos-jovis seeds online and i'm planning to grow them next year. :D

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! I'm glad that you are enjoying my format. I will definitely keep putting them out. I have lots of footage, but it just takes lots and lots of time to make a single video. It is a lot of editing. But I will get there!
For Campions, there are several native species I could try, some of which have been on my list for a long time. As of now, I have no videos, but have written up Garden Phlox and Fire Pink (Silene) - growitbuildit.com/fire-pink-silene-virginica-guide/

[@bluebowser3121]

@@growitbuildit thanks i will check it out ^_^

[@michaelguillemette5013]

Thank you for this video, I'm working on a small backyard meadow 40 x 20 and this Aster was one I was thinking of growing.

[@growitbuildit]

You are welcome Michael - it's a really good plant for me. Just need to keep the rabbits off of it for a while!

[@tracyguillemette6255]

@@growitbuildit we planted 5 of these, rabbit or deer ate them to the ground, but this year 2 came up from the roots that were left behind!

[@growitbuildit]

Rabbits and deer LOVE this plant

[@hobbitlady7568]

I love asters. Thank you.

[@jayallen5440]

Great videos!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Jay!

[@askmamalouise7605]

Awesome videos! Thank you for outstanding information!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Louise, I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@tmeyer2022]

I have clumps of native Eastern Blue Aster growing that are more than 10 years old. I have split them and given away start clumps often. To avoid the rabbit issue, I place 3-4 foot diameter 2" grid fencing circles (24" tall) aound them each spring as they get 4-6" high. This has an added appearance benefit of keeping the stems standing up, causing the clumps to have a globe shape when flowering. As of 9/26/2021, It's been a warm autumn so far, and they haven't produced many flowers yet. (Lots of buds, few flowers.) Waiting patiently!

[@growitbuildit]

That is a good idea Ted. I may have to look into that. I've still got the deer, who *love* this flower almost as much as the rabbits do. But I like how you are describing the globe effect. I can see where that would look really nice.

[@Gin0827]

I am so happy to find your website and channel. I love how you go over one plant. I take notes! Been binging on you all afternoon!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Gin! I'm glad you are enjoying my videos. I aim to provide the most in-depth information you can get.

[@DCEventphoto]

You always amaze me with your knowledgeable explanations.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you very much Benjamin! I'm glad you are finding them helpful!

[@bubblesmckenzie4125]

I got this plant ( smooth aster )when I ordered some little bluestem seed and also got a plant of spotted bee balm. Seed must have been mixed with the grass seed. A beautiful bonus, both plants bloomed the 1st year.. love your videos. 👀❤️👍

[@growitbuildit]

That is a sweet bonus!

[@johncraft8789]

I love those I'm going to try and get them at white flower farm

[@growitbuildit]

If they don't have them, you should try growing them from seed - it is pretty easy.

[@SMElder-iy6fl]

I got mine from Prairie Moon which has native plants.

[@lindaedwards2342]

Thank you. I've found out a lot about some plants that have popped up in my very large yard. I have been having these come up for the last 12 years and thought they were pretty. Now I know what they are.😂

[@growitbuildit]

You are welcome Linda! They are wonderful plants.

[@dianaholvik2554]

Thank you. Great video.

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome!

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

I love Asters

[@marshallhosel1247]

Thanks for the video

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Marshall - glad you found it helpful

[@nancyfahey7518]

Had to subscribe. Thanks for helping with wild flowers.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Nancy! I'm glad you are enjoying the videos.

[@dominiquebarrette9621]

Love your videos - thank you for being a floristic lover!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Dominique! You are quite welcome. The magic of nature is truly fascinating

[@lar113]

To be honest, I'd rather watch the video. Which reminds me, time for me to start my wild sunflower seeds. My mind works in strange ways.

[@growitbuildit]

Lol - I finally worked on getting my veggie seeds started today.

[@bryanmcavoy5302]

I love these videos! Quick question. Has anyone tried to grow the "Bluebird" cultivar? The Mt. Cuba Center is really ga-ga over them. My goal, however, is plant as true a native as possible with most of what I grow (fitting in with the local ecology and whatnot). So I'd assume that just good old "aster laevis" is my best bet.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - I've not tried the Bluebird cultivar. My experience with them is that they are kind of a mixed bag when it comes to pollinators. Sometimes the color change to the flower can have a significant effect on what pollinators visit it. You could probably ask Mt. Cuba, and I'm sure they would have an opinion. But either way, it is still a native species and better than an alien species!

[@adiposerex5150]

I have had two clumps of Aster laeve for years. I discovered Primrose speciosa encroaching and pulled some of that out to help the aster recover. Before I smartened up I had Lathyrus which I define as a weed now. A bunny mowed it down continually and the plants disappeared. The rabbit did me a favor.

[@growitbuildit]

I'm a big fan of my Asters. I've got three species blooming right now. My Smooth Blue are in full bloom. New England Asters are just starting to take off, and Aromatic Aster are just getting started.

[@SMElder-iy6fl]

Aromatic aster

[@growitbuildit]

Yeah - I got that one right here! ua-cam.com/video/axOURY7N4RE/v-deo.html

[@kitty4tify]

Great video. I love asters. I have a wood aster which is a joy to see pollinators on. Have you seen any birds eat the seeds?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Kitty - I have not specifically watched Aster for birds eating seeds. But since I have a bunch of Aster that should still have lots of seed, perhaps I set up a camera and see what I can see.

[@bobbikelly2253]

I think I have this. But mine are really short. About 12" tall is all.

[@growitbuildit]

There are a ton of different aster varieties. But I've had mine be very small before due to rabbit 'pruning'.

[@user-tg2ib2ol9g]

This was helpful but what do we do with them at the end of the season??? Trim them back? Leave them as is?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - they are herbaceous, so will completely die back in Winter. You can cut them back at winter. If you leave 6-12" of stalk standing, bees will lay eggs in them the following year.

[@jin8339]

I was looking for those Asters last yr but it was all sold out so I got China Asters instead. It's been 2 months my seedlings are growing but I am not sure which season to grow them as it is very hot in Florida. Something tells me I should do that in Fall but it's hard to get information as everything is based on cool season flowers ( Spring ).

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Jin - I know it is native (but rare) in the Florida Pan Handle. I would start seeds now, and just plant out.

[@jin8339]

@@growitbuildit Thanks !

[@fredg451]

have you tired cutting them back by about half early to encourage branching and fuller blooms?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Fred - I've not done that with the Smooth Blue Aster. But I'm certain it would work fine. I have done that with New England and Aromatic Aster with great results.

[@anneperlmutter3775]

yep, tried that last year on a few clumps. Did not love the result. Cut them back in June to about a foot height, & they retained the lopped look even tho branching & blooming. The tall slender stems look best when allowed to grow naturally, tho they can need propping up when in bloom.

[@anitarouth6]

I have most of the plants you talk about. I am in Zone 5B. Are there minimal differences between 5B and your zone 6 or significant differences, mainly as far as bloom time, plant time, etc.? P.S. New subscriber here! These videos are so helpful.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Anita, zone 5b will have slightly colder min temps, but that's about all. It might bloom earlier as well. But that would be about it.
Glad you are liking my videos. Goodluck!

[@charlesmaunder]

Any thoughts on heath asters?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Charles - I have, or had a single Heath Aster that grew wild just at the edge of my property. Each year it would bloom but arch down almost to ankle level. Of course, this is probably due to where it was growing. Only getting sun from the East and South, and no support around it. The blooming seemed to be just before Goldenrod and overlapped with New England Aster (from memory).
But my general opinion is that they look good in a ditch or meadow. I have seen them growing at the edge of woods and in powerline cuts hiking.
They may look good in a more formal setting if it got sun from all directions and was out in the open. And like almost all Asters, you could probably give it a 'haircut' to reduce the height a bit and it wouldn't lean so much.

[@lizzastreicher352]

Great content! Will be getting some of your seeds for sure! I have question on growing from seed. It seems some perenials can be started in the spring but some folks start it in the winter inside with grow lights. Or is this a prefenence?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Lizza - some perennial seeds can germinate anytime, while others will remain dormant until they have experienced a prolonged period of cold/moist conditions.
You can make the cold/moist period happen one of two ways, by cold stratifying the seeds in the fridge (see video - ua-cam.com/video/JIgYeduDiM4/v-deo.html)
Or you can winter sow the seeds. Winter sowing the seeds is by far my preferred method, and I winter sow dozens of species each year. I will be putting together a detailed video on it in Oct/Nov. But until then, I have written up a detailed guide on how I do it here - growitbuildit.com/illustrated-guide-to-winter-sowing-with-pictures/

[@cassstephens9910]

How much success can I expect from Chicago area (zone 5?) With an Aster in a pot. We've got a grumpy 92 year old patrolling the grounds. He doesn't like much change. So I kept all my pollinator-drawing variety of flowers in one size up from purchased size! How big would I have to go to possibly get some of the lovely blooms and the insects I'd like to support?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Cass - I think I would suggest a different Aster for container gardening. Aromatic Aster is an excellent flower, shorter than this one. But your will probably still need to do the Chelsea Chop to keep it looking nice. But the best benefit of Aromatic Aster is that it is one of the last blooming flowers of the season. So it will bring in a wide variety of late pollinators. Mine are still blooming (zone 6), but it is just about the only thing putting out color in our neighborhood right now. It often goes until November (which it will go into by a week or two this year).
Here is a brief write up I made of it several years ago. growitbuildit.com/aromatic-aster-how-to-grow/
And here is info on chelsea chop. Don't be scared. Just do it by July! growitbuildit.com/the-chelsea-chop/

[@lindaedwards2342]

Mine are coming up through full sun and a old deck.

[@cathykemper6323]

I'm trying to reduce the fluffy seed heads to just seed - from about a half acre of a pollinator strip. Any tips?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Cathy - You can try fire - I've done it in a foil tray outdoors with other seeds. It works ok.
You could also try placing them in a paper bag with something larger to knock them around.

[@luzvigerminal558]

Hi, I love aster too. I have one plant a New England aster. I live in south wales U.K. I don’t have problem with seeds germinating in my flower bed but I’ve noticed that there’s a lot of aster popping up 4 to 5 feet away from the mother plant, through rhizomes. I pull one plant and the rhizomes has 5 feet long. Is that normal? I thought they won’t grow well because my garden only 3 to 4 hours sun.

[@growitbuildit]

New England Asters are strange - most references say it won't produce rhizomes, although I've found that one type (I gathered seed locally) does spread via rhizomes. The leaves look the same (nearly wrapping around the stalk). But the ones I grew years ago from purchased seed are only clump forming. It might just be a genetic variation.

[@luzvigerminal558]

@@growitbuildit I bought the seeds and according to the pockets it did not spread through rhizomes.. thank you 🙏

[@brianramsey3824]

When u plant seeds are u just planting one seed one plant?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Brian, not all seeds will germinate, so I normally just pinch some seed between my fingers and try to sprinkle around 5 or more seeds per cell.

[@mitchellbell713]

Do you have rattlesnake master? I want to learn how to harvest and plant seeds. Thanks!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Mitchell, I've got some second year plants. I'll write them up later this year. But no video before next year. I like to grow plants a few years before making a video

[@geokat616]

Smooth Blue Aster - Complete Guide Perfect Purple Zoroaster 616 Smell Sweet Grow Right 💯🤍.

[@ksero1000]

Do you know about big leaf aster? My plant app says it’s growing all over in my yard, but the foliage coming up also looks like creeping bellflower. I want to keep it if it’s aster, I need to start battle if it’s bellflower. Nothing I find on the internet is helping me figure it out. They both look the same at this stage.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Rose - I've not grown big leaf aster. But I checked ID guides, and the basal leaves (at the base) are really big, 6-8" across and wide. While per Wisconsin DNR, the lower basal leaves on Creeping Bellflower are only 1-3" wide/long. It might be too early to tell the difference, as the plants may still be emerging. But keep an eye on them and if the basal leaves never get large, rip it out or poison it.
Both plants spread by rhizomes, so you will probably have to let the plants grow a bit to ID them correctly. If it is creeping bellflower, you will likely want to use herbicide on it as rhizome plants are notoriously difficult to kill by pulling alone. You almost always leave some of the root, which will re-sprout this year or next.

[@apropo123]

I have a lot of Asters. I always prune them until late June early July. And I have gorgeous masses of flowers. However, they are getting too tall for my taste. I am going for a low-growing hill. I read somewhere that I should do heavy pruning in June, so the plant doesn't get leggy. Kindly elaborate on that? thank you so much.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Heidi - I thought I covered that in the video. Sorry about that - anyways, you can cut them back by 1/3 to 1/2 their height in June or very early July. When you cut them back, they will then begin to branch and have an overall reduced height. This makes less of a torque on the stalk and allows them to stay more upright.

[@serenityprayers2091]

I planted this species next my red Jacob's Ladder bee bomb and it did not come back or is it late?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Scouts - you should be able to see the distinct green/blue foliage. Mine isn't blooming yet though.

[@wacoharder]

My asters have a problem this year. It’s now Sept 1 in central texas. The green growth is very compact. No flower buds have formed yet. What’s the problem? Thanks

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - is this the first time growing the plant? Or have you grown it before?
I've seen this in plants that had heavy competition, especially from trees. Or if there just isn't much soil for them to spread their roots in. I'm saying this because if it was a wet-soil issue you probably would see individual leaves wilt and die.

[@wacoharder]

@@growitbuildit same plant as last year and it did great last year. It has gotten much bigger in size this year, but again, green growth is hard, small compacted growth…but no buds.

[@growitbuildit]

I am sorry, but I have not experienced that on a plant that was previously established. Is it possible that something is eating the roots, or the top growth? Any voles/gophers/groundhogs? If nothing else, perhaps you will get a huge display next year. But the symptoms you describe don't sound like any condition I've encountered before.

[@joy4ly]

Do they need to be cut back to the ground in the late fall or early spring?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - if you don't mind looking at it, then just cut it back in Spring once temperatures warm up and you start seeing insects around.

[@ChrisWatkinsPortraits]

Why do the seeds viability go down so drastically after 2 years ?

[@growitbuildit]

It depends on the species. But I've tried germinating other Aster seeds that were several years old and had almost none germinate. They were in a sealed plastic bag at room temp, in a dark place.