'October Skies' is a slow-spreading aster, typically growing to about 18 inches, but being known to spread to 3 feet high and wide. It sports oblong, dark green 3-inch leaves that release a minty fragrance when crushed or handled. In mid fall, this showy, low-growing, bushy plant offers hundreds of small, daisy-like flowers (up to 1-inch across) that are deep sky blue, with blue to blue-purple rays and yellow center disks, which are attractive to butterflies and other insects. This cultivar is named for the particular darker blue of New England's October skies, which is matched in these unusually colored blooms.It is a herbaceous perennial, growing in moderate, dry- to medium-moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. It does well in sandy or clay soil, generally tolerating poor soils and drought, although it will benefit from added compost. This easy, deer- and frost-resistant aster is a great candidate for use in woodland, native plant, and open shade gardens, as well as in mass plantings, in low beds and borders, and containers, or as a cut flower. It is recommended that this plant be cut back after flowering to prevent the spread of variable seedlings. Plant them about 18-24 inches apart in the spring, and by fall you will have a beautiful blooming groundcover! Zones 3-8.
This item will not begin shipping to the appropriate regions until early to mid October. We apologize for any inconvenience.
