Crinitaria tatarica

Tatarian aster is a herbaceous perennial wildflower in the sunflower family. Its stiff stems hold up showy purple flowers that bring interest in a late season garden. The genus name Aster is Latin for star, referring to the star-burst shape of the flowers.

Plant in the full sun in and it will withstand a wide variety of soil types though it prefers good drainage.  Light soils may lead to it spreading in the garden a bit too rapidly as this plant can be considered somewhat weedy. 

It tolerates the heat and humidity of southern summers well and is an excellent choice for a late-season pollinator plant, providing nectar for butterflies, moths, bees, and other pollinators when many plants are done blooming.   It is a host plant for the larvae of the Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) butterfly.  This is a tall plant, best used at the back of a wide border or in a naturalized area.  Even though it is tall it only needs to be staked if it is grown in loose, moist, fertile soils.  If the aggressively growing rhizomes become too large you can divide the root ball every three to four years.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Wilt, powdery mildew, and botrytis are occasional problems.  It can spread aggressively.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.