Short's Aster: A Late-Season Star for Dry Shade Gardens

Short's aster (Symphyotrichum shortii) is a hidden gem of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest — a native perennial that blooms when most gardens are winding down, thriving in the dry shade where few flowers flourish. I discovered it after moving from New England, and now cherish the large colony outside my kitchen window, alive with pollinators well into October.

Quick Reference

• Botanical name: Symphyotrichum shortii (formerly Aster shortii)
• Common name: Short's aster
• Native range: Mid-Atlantic to Midwest (PA to NC, west to AR and MN; isolated FL populations)
• Hardiness: USDA zones 3–8 (–35°F / –37°C)
• Habitat: Dry woodlands and savannas
• Light: Part sun to open shade; tolerates full sun with moisture
• Water: Average to dry; prefers well-drained organic soil
• Mature size: 2–3 ft tall, 1.5 ft wide; may flop without support
• Key traits: Tolerates dry shade, limestone soil; deer-resistant
• Bloom time: Mid-September through October (later than most asters)
• When to plant: Spring best for containers; fall with moisture. Seed: fall sow or stratify 1 month.

Distinctive Beauty

¾- to 1-inch lavender flowers appear in airy panicles atop each stem. Each bloom features 10–20 yellow disk florets (turning brick-red after pollination) surrounded by matching lavender rays. Lower leaves are narrowly heart-shaped with smooth edges on long petioles — a useful ID trait.

In my Maryland zone 6 garden, Short's aster begins flowering just as aromatic aster (S. oblongifolium) peaks, extending the aster season beautifully. The blooms glow in subdued light, making this a standout for woodland edges and shaded borders.

Garden Uses

This is one of the few perennials that flowers well in dry shade — its relatively large lavender blooms are visible even in low light. It tolerates full shade but performs best in open shade or part sun. In full sun, foliage may scorch during summer droughts. Because it blooms so late, it injects color and life into the declining autumn garden.

It spreads modestly by seed and rhizomes, forming colonies over time. Heavy bloom can cause flopping; cut back by one-third in mid- to late June for bushier, sturdier plants.

Pollinator Magnet

Bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects flock to the nectar and pollen. It's a larval host for pearl crescent and silvery checkerspot butterflies. Late blooms sustain native insects through early frosts. Wild turkeys and ruffed grouse eat foliage and seeds.

Note: Not widely sold in retail nurseries — seek out online native-plant specialists for seeds and young plants.