How big does Italian aster grow?

About 60 cm × 45 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 30–75 cm × 30–60 cm.

What soil does Italian aster grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Is Italian aster hardy?

Hardy down to -23 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H7). It gets through winter everywhere at lower altitudes, but may not survive unprotected in a mountain garden.

Is Italian aster toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

When does Italian aster flower?

Flowering: July–October, purple, blue, pink.

How much water does Italian aster need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Italian aster cost?

It sells for roughly €5 to €8.60 in local shops, depending on size.

Italian aster

Aster amellus

Italian aster (Aster amellus) is a perennial that reaches 60 cm × 45 cm after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -23 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Non-toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €5.

Illustration of Italian aster — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A low, bushy aster with large lavender, violet or pink daisies with yellow centres from late summer well into autumn, always busy with bees and butterflies. It likes dry, limy, sunny places and, unlike the tall autumn asters, is hardly troubled by mildew. Plant it in spring and divide it only in spring, because a plant disturbed in autumn easily rots in a wet winter.

Watch out for

It stands frost well but not winter wet: the crown rots in heavy, wet soil, so plant it in well drained, rather lean, limy soil. In rich soil it grows leggy and flops. Divide it in spring every few years, because ageing clumps go bare in the middle. Wild populations are protected in Hungary, so plant nursery-grown stock only and never collect it from the wild.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 60 cm × 45 cm
Hardiness: down to -23 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D July–October, purple, blue, pink

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	60 cm × 45 cm
Ultimate size	30–75 cm × 30–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	July–October, purple, blue, pink
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	40 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about €5

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €5 – €8.60

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Perennials for full sun Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant perennials Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Plants that are non-toxic to children Perennials for pollinators Low-maintenance perennials

Looks good next to it

Common yew

Taxus baccata

English holly

Ilex aquifolium

Swedish cotoneaster

Cotoneaster × suecicus