2 named cultivars

perennialN. America Native

Rice Button Aster

Q: What zones can Rice Button Aster grow in?

Rice Button Aster is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Q: Is Rice Button Aster deer resistant?

Yes — Rice Button Aster is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

Q: When does Rice Button Aster bloom?

Rice Button Aster typically blooms in late summer to fall through late fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Q: Does Rice Button Aster need full sun?

Rice Button Aster does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Q: Is Rice Button Aster drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Rice Button Aster handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.

Symphyotrichum dumosum

$22.00

The Story

Plant Bio

Symphyotrichum dumosum, bushy aster, is a low mounding perennial native to eastern Canada and the United States, reaching one to three feet with a neat rounded outline. Small daisy flowers with white, pale pink or pale blue rays and yellow centres cover the plant from late summer into autumn. The stem leaves are small, rigid and clasping, giving it a fine, twiggy texture.

It is naturally denser and more compact than most native asters, so it holds its shape without staking or pinching — much of the modern compact aster breeding traces back to this species. It also tolerates poor sandy soil and dry conditions once established, flowering well where richer-fed asters flop.

Uses & Benefits:

A dense low mound smothered in small pale daisies through autumn, needing no staking.

Holds a compact shape in poor, dry, sandy soil where other asters need support.

Late nectar for bees and butterflies, and winter seed for small songbirds.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

24 inches

Width

18 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Low to moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Eastern Canada and the United States

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Plant Delights Nursery

<1 Gal Pot1+ Gal Pot

In Stock$22.00

Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring in average, well-drained soil.
Choose full sun to partial shade.
Space about eighteen inches apart to allow the mound to fill.
Water through the first season, then only in prolonged drought.
Divide every three years or so to keep clumps vigorous.
Cut back in late winter after the seed has fed birds.

Pro Tip

Leave it unfed and unpinched — this is one aster that stays compact on its own, and richer soil only makes it lax.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in full sun for the densest habit ☀️
Let it dry between waterings once established 🌱
Divide every few years to keep it vigorous ✂️
Leave seed heads for birds over winter 🐦

Don't

Feed it richly; it loses its compact shape ❌
Crowd it, which encourages mildew ❌
Cut it down in autumn and lose the winter seed ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Divide
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Front-of-border late colourMeadow and naturalised plantingPollinator garden

Companion Plants

Goldenrod Little Bluestem Black-Eyed Susan Calico Aster Butterfly Weed

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions