California aster
A Santa Barbara Botanic Garden selection of the coast aster (Symphyotrichum chilense) which offers a deeper shade of lavender blossoms than normally seen. Blooms late summer through fall and often into winter with 1 inch medium-lavender daisies opening from dark purple buds. Grows 1 - 3 ft. high and SPREADS VIGOROUSLY by rhizomes. Use this to advantage to stabilize soils, as a ground cover or in a large scale meadow planting where it tolerates many soil types in full sun to light shade. Appreciates some summer water though it is drought tolerant. Keeping it dryish will slow its spread. An easy to grow bee and butterfly favorite.