Raydon's Favorite Aromatic Aster (Aster Oblongifolius) - 6 Pack Of 1 Gallon Pots
$99.99
Sale price
$99.99
Regular price
$110.00
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Raydon's Favorite Aromatic Aster (Aster Oblongifolius) - 6 Pack Of 1 Gallon Pots
$99.99
Sale price
$99.99
Regular price
$110.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Description
Raydon's Favorite Aromatic Aster
Aster oblongifolius 'Raydon's Favorite'
Other names: Raydon's Favorite Fragrant Aster, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-8b (3?) Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Height at Maturity: 2.5-3'
Width at Maturity: 3-4'
Spacing: 3' for mass plantings
Spacing: 3' for mass plantings
Growth Habit / Form: Compact Spreading Mound
Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
Flower Color: Violet-Blue
Flower Size: 2-3"
Flowering Period: Early Fall to Early Winter
Flower Type: Single, Daisy
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Dark Green
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: No
Berry Color: No
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Part Shade
Water Needs: Average
Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Rocky, Sandy, Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained to Dry when established
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5 (Slightly Acidic to Slightly Alkaline)
Maintenance / Care: Low
Attracts: Butterflies, Beneficial Pollinators, Visual Attention
Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-30F), Deer, Disease, Drought and Dry Soil, Heat, Humidity, Insect, Rabbit
Description
Not only Raydon Alexander's favorite Aster, but ours too...and we think it will be yours as well! The Raydon's Favorite Aromatic Aster is an almost indestructible North American Native selection that will put on a magnificent show of color like no other from early fall to frost, when there's often a need for color in the garden. It produces larger flowers than other aromatic asters that literally smother the 3 feet tall and wide compact foliage mound in a brilliant shade of violet-blue. The flowers are sure to capture the attention of late season butterflies and other beneficial pollinators. Highly adaptable and super-easy to grow, Raydon's Favorite will thrive on thin and rocky dry soils or average garden soils. It also stands up to the cold (-30F) and heat. You might also be happy to know that the deer and rabbits turn their nose up to the aromatic foliage. This is one of those plants that will always have you looking forward to fall. What more can we ask from a perennial plant?!
‘Raydon’s Favorite’ was named Plant of the Year by The Garden Club of America in 2016. Though it was an heirloom plant grown in Texas for many years, it was originally introduced to horticulture in the late 1980's by Raydon Alexander, a plantsman from San Antonio. It appears the original plant matches up with strains of an Aromatic Aster from East Tennessee, so a gardener in Tennessee must have brought it to Texas. A strain growing on Lookout Mountain has fairly similar characteristics, and this popular tourist destination may very well be the original source of ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ aster. If you would like to get the while history on this remarkable plant it can be found here: https://www.gardenrant.com/2016/03/when-the-aster-hitched-a-ride.html
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing 3 feet tall and spreading up to 4 feet wide, the Raydon's Favorite Aster is ideal for use as a specimen in smaller garden spaces or is absolutely breathtaking groupings or mass plantings in large garden spaces and sunny to partially shaded woodland borders and rock gardens. It does incredibly well in sites with rock, dry soil. A fine addition to butterfly and beneficial pollinator gardens, native plant gardens, rock gardens, blue or purple theme gardens, cottage gardens and the Xeriscape (low water needs).
Suggested Spacing: 3 feet apart for mass plantings; 6 feet or more apart for space between plants
Growing Preferences
The Raydon's Favorite Aster is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained to dry soil of average to low fertility, even dry sites with thin, rocky soil. It prefers full to to part shade. We suggest at least 5 hours of direct sunlight per day for best flowering and overall performance. Constantly soggy or wet soils can be problematic. Heavy, dense clay soils should be amended with organic matter to improve drainage. Very low maintenance, we simply cut it back to just above the ground in late winter before new growth begins to emerge.
Note: Find helpful advice from our experts under the Planting & Care tab above on desktop computer screens or below on mobile devices.
Plant Long & Prosper!
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Care
To maintain the beauty and integrity of your purchase, we recommend treating it with care. Simple maintenance practices, such as gentle washing and proper storage, can effectively preserve the longevity of your favorites. We encourage you to refer to the care instructions included with each item, designed to help you keep your purchase in top condition.
Design
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