Symphyotrichum patens
Late purple aster
 
Thriving in full sun and well-drained soils, Symphyotrichum patens is a late-season bloomer, offering vibrant purple flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Its seeds are eaten by birds in winter, and it provides important late-season nectar for migrating pollinators. This aster is a key player in fall gardens, ensuring that pollinators have food well into the colder months.
 
photos by Becky Dill