The cheerful California Aster (Symphyotrichum chilense), also known as Pacific Aster and Coast Aster, is a native perennial that provides subtle shades of blue and lavender to your garden from summer to fall. This aster is native to coastal California and is a valuable companion plant for those with spring-blooming plants to provide wildlife support throughout multiple seasons. Its petite flowers attract butterflies and moths with their nectar, and it serves as a host plant for several insect species. After blooming, birds eat the seeds, providing a food source for local wildlife.

Why Choose California Aster?

• Late-Season Pollinator Support: This native aster species is a great source of pollen for bees active in late fall, including new bumblebee queens preparing for winter dormancy.
• Host Plant for Butterflies: It serves as a host plant for checkerspot and crescent butterflies.
• Versatile and Hardy: It thrives in moist, loamy clay soil but is also drought-adapted, tolerating little to no supplemental summer water once established.
• Erosion Control: With a deep, extensive, fibrous root system, California Aster can help stabilize slopes and is excellent for erosion control.
• Pollinator-Safe: Grown non-GMO and free of harmful neonicotinoids, promoting a healthy ecosystem for pollinators and wildlife.

Available in sets of three, six, or 12 plants to suit any garden size.

Planting Tips:

1. Location: Plant in full or partial sun exposure. It does well in moist soil but can tolerate dry conditions once established.
2. Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots. Once mature, it is drought-tolerant and can handle minimal summer watering.
3. Maintenance: Minimal care required. There's no need to deadhead the flowers, as allowing them to go to seed provides a valuable food source for birds. Leaving the stems standing in the fall offers overwintering sites for beneficial insects. If desired, cut back the stems in late spring after pollinators have emerged. The plant spreads easily by rhizomes, making it great for naturalized plantings and native prairie restoration.

For more information on planting, view our How to Plant Your Native Plants guide and other planting tips in the Garden for Wildlife Learning Center.

Bring cheerful, late-season color and vital pollinator support to your landscape with California Aster—a beautiful and functional native perennial for your wildlife-friendly garden.

Shipping Range:

• CA

Zip Code Verification: Our plants are grown regionally to thrive where you live and help local wildlife. Confirm availability for your area using the zip code checker near the add to cart button above.

Returns: Due to the nature of our products, we are unable to offer order cancellations, returns or exchanges. In order to guarantee your satisfaction, all plants are covered by our Plant Guarantee.

*To ensure your plants arrive healthy, we may delay shipments to certain areas during times of extreme temperatures, natural disasters, or other conditions that will impact the plants during transit

Sizing: At the time of shipment, our plants have a developed root mass and emerging foliage around 4-8” high.

Recommended container sizes (in width) for container planting:

• 12 In
• 18 In
• 24 In
• 36 In
• 48 In