Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Aster oblongifolius) 'Raydon's Favorite' (Aromatic Aster)

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (syn. Aster oblongifolius) 'Raydon's Favorite' is an award winning mound-forming aromatic aster cultivar that was praised as the 2016 Plant of the Year by the Garden Club of America. 'Raydon's Favorite' forms mounds of two to three feet in height and produces profuse fragrant blooms in shades of blue and purple, which are a favorite of both birds and butterflies in the late summer and early fall.

This aromatic aster cultivar prefers full sun exposure and medium to dry soils, but still has a high degree of adaptability to a diversity of soil types and tolerance of drier conditions and clay soil. Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'Raydon's Favorite' is also tolerance of herbivore browsing, and makes for an excellent border planting, container plant, or as groundcover in a variety of locations.