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California Aster

Symphyotrichum chilense

perennial herb View on Calscape

Care

Sun

full sun, part shade

Water

low

Soil

moist to dry; tolerates clay

Size

1–3ft tall , 1–3ft wide

Bloom

Jul-Nov · lavender, purple

Foliage

Semi-Deciduous

Container

Friendly

Flowers

Prized

Native Range

Coastal California from Oregon to Baja California

Daisy-like lavender flowers with yellow centers in fall

Excellent fall color in the native garden; spreads by rhizomes

Care Guide

Planting

Plant your California Aster in full sun or part shade in loamy clay soil that drains slowly or stays moist - this plant actually thrives in conditions other plants struggle with. Plant in fall or winter so the roots establish before summer heat arrives. Space plants with edging or barriers in mind, since this perennial spreads via rhizomes and will eventually fill in around itself; the low-growing 'Point Saint George' cultivar works well as a groundcover if you want that effect.

After Planting

Water weekly or twice monthly during your first summer to establish the plant, then back off dramatically - once established, California Aster needs almost no supplemental water and tolerates drought well. In late fall or early winter, cut the entire plant back to the ground; new growth will appear in late winter, so don't panic when it disappears. The biggest mistake is overwatering an established plant: your California Aster is drought-adapted and actually prefers dry conditions, so if it's not thriving, water is usually the problem, not the solution.

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