Raydon’s Favorite Aromatic Aster (Aster Oblongifolius) – 1 Gallon Pot

Height at Maturity: 2.5-3′

Width at Maturity: 3-4′ 
Spacing:  3′ for mass plantings

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Maintenance / Care:  Low

Not only Raydon Alexander’s favorite Aster, but ours too…and we think it will be yours as well! The Raydon’s Favorite Aromatic Aster is an almost indestructible North American Native selection that will put on a magnificent show of color like no other from early fall to frost, when there’s often a need for color in the garden. It produces larger flowers than other aromatic asters that literally smother the 3 feet tall and wide compact foliage mound in a brilliant shade of violet-blue. The flowers are sure to capture the attention of late season butterflies and other beneficial pollinators. Highly adaptable and super-easy to grow, Raydon’s Favorite will thrive on thin and rocky dry soils or average garden soils. It also stands up to the cold (-30F) and heat. You might also be happy to know that the deer and rabbits turn their nose up to the aromatic foliage. This is one of those plants that will always have you looking forward to fall. What more can we ask from a perennial plant?! 

‘Raydon’s Favorite’ was named Plant of the Year by The Garden Club of America in 2016. Though it was an heirloom plant grown in Texas for many years, it was originally introduced to horticulture in the late 1980’s by Raydon Alexander, a plantsman from San Antonio. It appears the original plant matches up with strains of an Aromatic Aster from East Tennessee, so a gardener in Tennessee must have brought it to Texas. A strain growing on Lookout Mountain has fairly similar characteristics, and this popular tourist destination may very well be the original source of ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ aster. If you would like to get the while history on this remarkable plant it can be found here: https://www.gardenrant.com/2016/03/when-the-aster-hitched-a-ride.html

Questions? Contact Us!