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Choose your climateBased on winter hardiness only.

Perennial · Asteraceae family

New York aster

Symphyotrichum novi-belgii

Full sun 1 ft 11⅝ in–4 ft 11 in × 1 ft 3¾ in–1 ft 11⅝ in Flowers September–October to −90 °F
Flower colors Click a color

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun
Size1 ft 11⅝ in–4 ft 11 in
spacing 17¾ in
FlowersSeptember–October
PlantingMarch–May, September–November
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moistloamyhumus-rich

Watering

keep the soil evenly moistdo not waterlogless when it rains

Frost

−90 °F
no winter protectiondies back in winter, regrows in spring

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (69 in).

19¾ in3 ft 3⅜ in4 ft 11 in1 ft 11⅝ in–4 ft 11 inspread 1 ft 3¾ in–1 ft 11⅝ in
1 ft 11⅝ in–4 ft 11 in× spread 1 ft 3¾ in–1 ft 11⅝ in

Plant 17¾ in apart.

Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Typical for a temperate climate (four seasons). The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

September–October · purple, pink, blue or red

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–May, September–November

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March–May

Feeding

Nutrition.

Light
balanced fertilizercompost or mulch
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level

Gray mold

Botrytis cinerea
Medium riskdisease
More about this problem

What you will see

Gray fuzzy mold on dying parts, rot of buds and stems.

The source says: it is among the perennials susceptible to gray mold.

When to look

All year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove dead leaves and spent flowers.
    • Adequate spacing and ventilation of the planting.
  2. By hand as soon as it appearsRemove affected parts and do not leave plant debris lying around.
Gray molddisease · all yearMedium risk

What you will see

Gray fuzzy mold on dying parts, rot of buds and stems.

The source says: it is among the perennials susceptible to gray mold.

When to look

All year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove dead leaves and spent flowers.
    • Adequate spacing and ventilation of the planting.
  2. By hand as soon as it appearsRemove affected parts and do not leave plant debris lying around.
More about this problem

What you will see

Holes in leaves and shiny trails, especially on young shoots in spring.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water in the morning so the plant dries off by evening.
    • Watch and protect young shoots in spring.
    • Encourage natural enemies (birds, toads, hedgehogs).
  2. By hand damp, mild evenings from spring to fallCollect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight; traps made of half an orange or containers of beer.
  3. Biological warm, moist soil, spring to early fallPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes watered into the soil (effective against slugs, less so against snails).
Slugs and snailspest

What you will see

Holes in leaves and shiny trails, especially on young shoots in spring.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water in the morning so the plant dries off by evening.
    • Watch and protect young shoots in spring.
    • Encourage natural enemies (birds, toads, hedgehogs).
  2. By hand damp, mild evenings from spring to fallCollect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight; traps made of half an orange or containers of beer.
  3. Biological warm, moist soil, spring to early fallPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes watered into the soil (effective against slugs, less so against snails).
More about this problem

What you will see

Colonies of tiny insects on shoots and buds, sticky honeydew, curled leaves.

When to look

Spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Check plants regularly from spring.
    • Encourage ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings and parasitic wasps.
  2. By hand as soon as it appearsRub off colonies by hand or wash them off with a jet of water.
  3. Biological spring to summerRelease lacewing larvae, aphid midge larvae or ladybirds.
  4. Gentle spray in a heavy infestation, repeatPotassium soap (fatty acids) or plant oil.
  5. Chemical — only when nothing else helps only as a last resortA product authorized in your country against aphids.
Aphidspest · spring and summer

What you will see

Colonies of tiny insects on shoots and buds, sticky honeydew, curled leaves.

When to look

Spring and summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Check plants regularly from spring.
    • Encourage ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings and parasitic wasps.
  2. By hand as soon as it appearsRub off colonies by hand or wash them off with a jet of water.
  3. Biological spring to summerRelease lacewing larvae, aphid midge larvae or ladybirds.
  4. Gentle spray in a heavy infestation, repeatPotassium soap (fatty acids) or plant oil.
  5. Chemical — only when nothing else helps only as a last resortA product authorized in your country against aphids.
More about this problem

What you will see

Wilting and yellowing of one side of the plant, browning of tissue in the stem.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Free-draining soil, change of planting site.
    • Healthy planting material.
  2. By hand as soon as it is foundDig up affected plants and dispose of them away from the compost.
Fusarium wiltdisease

What you will see

Wilting and yellowing of one side of the plant, browning of tissue in the stem.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Free-draining soil, change of planting site.
    • Healthy planting material.
  2. By hand as soon as it is foundDig up affected plants and dispose of them away from the compost.
More about this problem

What you will see

Brown to black spots on leaves; leaves turn yellow early.

When to look

Spring – fall

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove old leaves before they infect the new season.
    • Do not wet the leaves when watering; keep the plant unstressed.
  2. By hand after the first spots; in fallRemove affected leaves at once and destroy them; collect fallen leaves in fall.
Leaf spotsdisease · spring – fall

What you will see

Brown to black spots on leaves; leaves turn yellow early.

When to look

Spring – fall

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove old leaves before they infect the new season.
    • Do not wet the leaves when watering; keep the plant unstressed.
  2. By hand after the first spots; in fallRemove affected leaves at once and destroy them; collect fallen leaves in fall.
More about this problem
Sources (7)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does New York aster flower?

In September–October; the flowers are purple, pink, blue or red.

Does New York aster tolerate shade?

No, it needs full sun.

How much space does New York aster need?

At maturity 1 ft 3¾ in–1 ft 11⅝ in wide and 1 ft 11⅝ in–4 ft 11 in tall; recommended spacing 17¾ in.

Slugs and snails — what can you do?

Water in the morning so the plant dries off by evening. Collect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight; traps made of half an orange or containers of beer.

Aphids — what can you do?

Check plants regularly from spring. Rub off colonies by hand or wash them off with a jet of water.

Sources (13) Checked 28 September 2026

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