How big does New York aster grow?

About 1.2 m × 90 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 0.9–1.5 m × 30–90 cm.

What soil does New York aster grow in?

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

Is New York aster hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is New York aster toxic to children?

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

When does New York aster flower?

Flowering: August–October, purple, blue, pink, white.

How much water does New York aster need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

How much does New York aster cost?

It sells for roughly €5.90 to €7.90 in local shops, depending on size.

What should I plant instead of New York aster?

We do not recommend it because it is on the EU or the Hungarian list of invasive species. For a similar purpose we recommend: Autumn bugbane, Bee balm, Chinese anemone, Chinese meadow rue.

New York aster

Aster novi-belgii

New York aster (Aster novi-belgii) is a perennial that reaches 1.2 m × 90 cm after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Non-toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €5.90. We do not recommend it because it is on the EU or the Hungarian list of invasive species.

Illustration of New York 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 tall, upright perennial that is covered in violet, blue, pink or white daisies from late summer to mid autumn, when little else is in flower, and butterflies and bees love it. Plant it in a sunny, airy spot in moist, fertile soil and water it in dry spells. Divide it every few years, because the clumps die out in the middle and mildew gets worse, cut it back after flowering so that it does not shed seed, and keep it away from riverbanks and floodplains.

We do not recommend this plant

We do not recommend it because it is on the EU or the Hungarian list of invasive species. Further down we show what to plant instead.

Watch out for

Powdery mildew is the main problem: by late summer the leaves are often coated grey and wither from the base up, especially in dry soil and crowded, airless spots. It spreads by rhizomes and by seed, the clumps need dividing every few years and tall cultivars can flop without support. In Central Europe North American asters have escaped from gardens and formed large stands along rivers and on floodplains, where they crowd out native plants; Hungarian nature conservation counts them among the invasive plants and in Switzerland the species group may not be sold. Cut down the spent stems and never dump dug-up clumps or rhizomes in the wild.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 1.2 m × 90 cm
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D August–October, purple, blue, pink, white

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1.2 m × 90 cm
Ultimate size	0.9–1.5 m × 30–90 cm
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	August–October, purple, blue, pink, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	50 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about €5.90

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

What to plant instead

Recommended plants that do the same job, with similar characteristics.

Autumn bugbane

Actaea simplex 1.5 m × 80 cm after 10 years

A tall perennial for shade that carries long, white, strongly scented bottlebrush spikes from late summer into mid autumn, when most shade plants have…

Perennial

Part shade

Shade

from about €12

Bee balm

Monarda didyma 1 m × 90 cm after 10 years

In summer its shaggy red, pink or purple flower heads draw bees and butterflies, and the leaves smell spicy and minty when rubbed. It belongs in…

Perennial

Full sun

Part shade

from about €4

Chinese anemone

Anemone hupehensis 75 cm × 45 cm after 10 years

A perennial that flowers in pink or white from late summer until the first frosts, bringing colour when most of the border has finished. It does…

Perennial

Full sun

Part shade

from about €4.50

Chinese meadow rue

Thalictrum delavayi 1.5 m × 60 cm after 10 years

A tall, airy perennial: above columbine-like, finely divided foliage it lifts a cloud of tiny lilac flowers on thin purplish stems about 1.5 m high…

Perennial

Part shade

Full sun

from about €8

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. €5.90 – €7.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

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