Plant: spreading perennial to 3'

Origin: North American short grass prairie

Zone: 4 - 8

Flowers: 2 inch, typical composite flower with light purple rays. Last meal for many bees and other pollinators. On election day (70F) it was loaded with bumblebees, honeybees, carpenter bees, green bees, skppers, butterflies, and flies.

Foliage: small, tough, oblong leaves

Culture: full sun in well drained, poor soil. Drought tolerant. Aggressive spreader. Give plenty of space. Shear in late spring to keep compact and upright when weighted with flowers in fall. Pubescent, aromatic foliage not eaten by rabbits unlike smooth aster.