In early summer to fall, butterflies often sun as they sip on these daisylike blooms. Perennial; full sun.
We count Asters among the great garden plants, because many of them bloom gloriously in late summer and fall when most garden plants are spent. There are many species, all of them having the classic Daisy form (outer ray flowers surrounding a central disk). They offer a range of rich colors, often with exceptionally handsome dark green foliage, easy dispositions, hardiness, and a ton of flowers at a time when color is at a premium. In addition, some Asters are among the longest-blooming plants known, the finest attribute a plant can have. Asters need full sun and reliable moisture, and often perform best if pinched in midsummer, which discipline produces a super-abundance of bloom on a plant precisely the size you want.