Wood's Purple Aster

Hardiness Zone: 4-8

When introducing the Woods Aster Purple to your property we recommend finding locations that provide full sun, however these plants are capable of handling some light shade. Thriving best in moist, well-draining soils, the Woods Purple Aster can handle sites consisting of chalk, clay, loam, and even sandy areas. For the health of the Woods Purple Aster, planting in a location that allows good air circulation will help avoid ailments like powdery mildew.

After planting, you should water your Woods Aster Purple at a minimum of twice a week until established. Once established, keep an eye on the soil making sure not to let it get too dry as these plants like it moist but not saturated. We recommend keeping an eye on your local weather making sure to water during periods of inclement weather such as high heat or drought.

When first planting your Woods Aster Purple, we recommend adding fertilizer to the planting site. If you planted during the spring, re-apply fertilizer in late fall before winter dormancy. If you planted in fall, wait until spring before the push of new growth to fertilize your perennial. Remember these steps for the life of the plant and you will continue to have lavish blooms each year!

There are a few different methods for pruning your Woods Purple Aster; they are thinning, pinching, and pruning. Thinning is the process of cutting out entire stems from the base. One in three stems should be removed to promote proper air flow and to alleviate the possibilities of contracting powdery mildew. Pinching is the process of literally pinching the stalks of the perennial just above the new growing bud to promote more growth. The goal when pinching is to maximize the amount of blooms possible in a season. Lastly, when the plant has fallen into dormancy, you may, if needed to reshape your Woods Purple Aster, prune to the ground leaving about 2” of the plant in order for new growth to form.