Ever wish the classic New England aster would just stay short and behave a bit more? Purple Dome does exactly that, shrinking the whole show into a neat, rounded mound only 18-24 inches tall, no staking ever needed. Late summer through fall, it throws the ultimate garden party, blanketing itself in rich royal-purple semi-double daisies with those bright golden centers that make everything else look dull by comparison. Pop it front and center in borders, let it spill over rocks, or juice up your pollinator patch—it delivers nonstop late-season color, feeds butterflies and bees like crazy and comes back year after year with zero drama. Isn’t this the fun, tough little star your garden’s been waiting for?
Conditions: Full sun to part shade; average to moist, well-drained soil
Size: 1.5’-2’tall, 2’-3’ spread
Zone: 4 - 8
Wildlife Value: Important nectar and pollen sources for butterflies, bees, hover flies, and other pollinators; larval host for many butterfly and moth species, including the Pearl Crescent Butterfly and Brown-hooded Owlet moth; seeds beloved by songbirds
Photos: David Korbonits