Aster oblongifolius 'Raydon's Favorite'

Grow in full sun in average to dry soil. Cut back after flowering to prevent the spread of variable seedlings.

Named the 2016 Plant of the Year by The Garden Club of America.

Aster oblongifolius 'Raydon’s Favorite', now known as Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'Raydon’s Favorite', has medium blue flowers larger than 1” in diameter blooming late in the season. It grows about 3’ tall and has a bushy dense covering of aromatic leaves. In 2016, it was named Plant of the Year by The Garden Club of America because of its more compact form, fragrance, dazzling bright blue flower, and durability in harsh sites.

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium prefers full sun and dry conditions. It generally can be found in limestone glades, slopes, prairies, and dry open ground and has a high pH tolerance. While it prefers lean soils, aromatic aster is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions and can tolerate heat, pollution, and soil compaction. Due to its aromatic foliage, it is highly resistant to deer, rabbits, rodents, and insects.

'Raydon’s Favorite' was named by Allen Bush after Raydon Alexander, a noted plantsman from San Antonio, TX. It is believed this cultivar is a selection of Symphyotrichum oblongifolium found from Lookout Mountain in Tennessee by Allen Bush in the 1980s and introduced by Holbrook Farm. We find that although similar to 'October Skies', 'Raydon’s Favorite' is about one foot taller, blooms 2 weeks later, and has larger flowers. It is best to cut back after flowering to prevent the spread of variable seedlings.