Aromatic aster

* Common name: Aromatic aster ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ and ‘October Skies’

* Botanical name: Symphyotrichum oblongifolium

* What it is: A pair of native fall-blooming wildflowers with daisy-like blooms of blue-lavender that have yellow centers. ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ is bigger and bushier, ‘October Skies’ is a third shorter and more spreading. Both are drought-tough and attractive to butterflies.

* Size: ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ grows 24 to 30 inches tall. ‘October Skies’ grows about 18 inches tall. Space 2 to 2½ feet apart.

* Where to use: A top choice for late-season color and pollen in a butterfly/pollinator garden. Clusters also look good in perennial borders, cut-flower gardens, and any sunny bed or bank. Full sun for best bloom.

* Care: Keep damp the first season, then water usually not needed. Scatter a balanced organic granular fertilizer over the bed in early spring. Snip off flowers after they brown if you’re neat. Otherwise, cut the whole plant to the ground at the end of winter. Can be dug and divided in early spring.

* Great partner: At its best paired with a blue-tinted ornamental grass, such as big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass ‘Sioux Blue’ or switchgrass ‘Dallas Blue’ or ‘Northwind.’ Dwarf goldenrod is another sun-loving native that blooms at the same time.