Southern Prairie Aster, Showy Aster

Description

A low growing, clump forming to slowly spreading perennial the Southern Prairie Aster produces 1" wide, medium purple to lighter pinkish purple daisies with a yellow eye atop sturdy upright to arching stems beginning in late summer and lasting into fall. This is another Aster that is native to sandy dryer upland soils and so is somewhat drought resistant once well-established. Excellent for native pollinators.Caterpillar host: Field Crescent, Pearl Crescent, Texan Crescent, Roadside Checkerspot, Hoffman's Checkerspot, and American Lady.The Southern Prairie Aster is useful in the perennial garden or in natural settings like meadows and roadside plantings. Interestingly many species of Eurybia were used ethnobotanically and as food for Native Americans. May spread clonally via rhizomes, but generally not aggressively, once well-established. Likely to be a long lived perennial under good conditions returning each year from a woody caudex. Somewhat tolerant of partly shaded conditions.