Aster Raydon’s Favorite (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’) is one of our most reliable native perennial asters. This aromatic aster blooms in mid-autumn, covered with 1 ½ inch wide blue-purple daisy-like flowers with yellow centers.

Butterflies and bumble bees are frequent visitors to this aster in my October garden. Night temps in the mid-twenties don’t injure the flowers. Leaves and stems emit a minty, aromatic aroma when crushed. Raydon’s Favorite also is an excellent cutflower (U.S. hardiness zones 3 to 8).

Raydon’s Favorite forms a compact mounding shrub, growing 3 to 4 feet tall after 2-3 years, slightly wider than high. To produce more flowers and improve plant density and uniformity, prune this aster back by half in mid-July and allow it to re-grow. Feed plants again with a water-soluble fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro®, Jack’s® or Schultz® according to package directions.

Grow in full sun and in average garden soil; it flourishes in a compost – rich soil. Established plants are exceptionally drought tolerance. Feed at planting time or in early spring with a slow-release fertilizer such as Osmocote®. After flowering is completed, cut back and gather up branches to reduce seed dispersal into other parts of the garden.

Asters need to be divided once every 3 to 4 years to keep them growing vigorously. Raydon’s Favorite appears to be disease or pest free. Plant(s) should be divided in either spring or fall or from cuttings taken in early summer.

Raydon’s Favorite began appearing in garden centers about 1995, introduced by Allen Bush from a plant he received from Raydon Alexander in San Antonio, TX, from a plant he acquired on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee.