{"product_id":"purple-dome-new-england-aster","title":"Purple Dome New England Aster","description":"\u003ch3 class=\"pd-title-head\"\u003e\n  \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eSymphyotrichum novae-angliae\u003c\/i\u003e 'Purple Dome'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n  \u003cspan\u003e(previously known as \u003ci\u003eAster novae-angliae\u003c\/i\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOverview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUses:\u003c\/strong\u003e Front and middle of sunny borders, mass planting and drifts, pollinator gardens, outdoor containers and large planters, autumn seasonal displays.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBenefits:\u003c\/strong\u003e A compact selection of the New England aster that solves the one real problem with the species — it stays low and dense instead of stretching to four feet and flopping. Deep purple daisies with gold centers cover the entire mound in early fall and hold for several weeks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Hardiness Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4–8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full Sun\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife Cycle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardy Perennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mounding, Clumping — dense low dome from a tight crown\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep Purple\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.5–2 ft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2–3 ft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late summer through fall\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSummary\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe New England aster is one of the great fall perennials and also one of the floppiest. Purple Dome keeps the flower and loses the flop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt builds through summer as a low green cushion, no more than knee high, and then in late summer the whole thing disappears under bloom — small daisies in a saturated blue-purple with bright gold centers, packed tightly enough that the foliage is hard to see. The display runs three to four weeks and lands exactly when the rest of the border is winding down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe mound holds its shape through wind and rain without staking, which is what makes it usable at the front of a bed or in a container where the species version would need cutting back twice a summer to stay upright.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLate-season asters are among the most valuable nectar plants in the garden. This one is heavily worked by bumblebees, and monarchs moving south in September and October feed on it regularly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCare\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePurple Dome New England Aster Care\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in full sun. Six hours minimum, more is better. In part shade the mound loosens, the stems stretch, and the plant loses the compact habit it was selected for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGive it average, well-drained soil with steady moisture. New England asters resent drought at the root more than most fall perennials, and dry soil in midsummer causes the lower leaves to brown and drop before bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWater regularly through the first season, and during dry spells thereafter. Good air movement around the plant reduces powdery mildew, which is common on the species and much less of an issue on this selection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFeed lightly if at all. One spring application of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/products\/slow-release-fertilizer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eslow release fertilizer\u003c\/a\u003e is sufficient; rich soil or heavy nitrogen undoes the compact habit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNo pinching is required — that is the point of this selection. Cut the plant to the ground in late winter, and divide every three or four years in spring if the center begins to open up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn containers, water more often than you would in the ground and use a pot wide enough for the mound to fill out. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSize\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat Size is the Purple Dome New England Aster for Sale Online?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOur Purple Dome New England Aster ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/pages\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Contact Almanac Planting Co\"\u003econtact us\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow Large Does Purple Dome New England Aster Grow?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePurple Dome holds at about a foot and a half to two feet tall and spreads two to three feet wide, forming a rounded cushion roughly twice as wide as it is tall. Space twenty-four inches apart for a continuous drift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAdditional Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are some common names for this plant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe most widely used names, in rough order of familiarity, are:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePurple Dome aster\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew England aster\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMichaelmas daisy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is this different from a regular New England aster?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSize and posture, mainly. The straight species reaches three to five feet and typically needs staking or a midsummer cutback to stay upright. Purple Dome tops out around two feet, holds a dense rounded shape on its own, and carries a deeper, more uniform purple. Bloom time and pollinator value are essentially the same.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it a true native?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a nativar — a named selection of \u003cem\u003eSymphyotrichum novae-angliae\u003c\/em\u003e, which is native to eastern and central North America. The parentage is entirely from that native species; only the compact habit was selected for. See our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/collections\/native-plants\"\u003eNative Plants of North America\u003c\/a\u003e collection for straight species and other selections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it get powdery mildew?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFar less than the species, but it is not immune. Mildew shows up on lower leaves in humid summers, especially where plants are crowded or dry at the root. Space plants for air movement, water at the base rather than overhead, and keep the soil from drying out completely. It is a cosmetic issue and does not affect bloom or winter survival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat pairs well with it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt reads best against warm colors and strong fall foliage — goldenrods, black-eyed Susans, switchgrass, and low ornamental grasses that catch late light. See our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/collections\/perennials\"\u003ePerennials\u003c\/a\u003e collection for companions that bloom at the same time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Almanac Planting Co","offers":[{"title":"2 Gallon \/ Fall '26 Pre-Order","offer_id":47507181469858,"sku":"PN-PDNEA-2-1yr","price":44.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/9374\/6850\/files\/Image_Coming_Soon.png?v=1786804456","url":"https:\/\/almanacplanting.com\/products\/purple-dome-new-england-aster","provider":"Almanac Planting Co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}