THE TATARIAN ASTER

 I have seen asters before but never identified them specifically. I was taken with these which I saw at Walney Visitor Center yesterday (10-5-25). They were in the flower bed at the front of the house.  

In my search for its ID, I came up with the Tatarian Aster (you can click on its name to learn more and by all means, let me know if you disagree. I am always learning here). A lot of the plants have long passed their blooming, but it was still a pleasure to see what was left. Even those that had lost all their petals and leave dried out, were beautiful. 

"Tatarian aster is deeply rooted in Eastern folklore and traditional practices, often featured in ancient texts. Its robust presence symbolizes endurance and resilience, echoing through poems and songs that celebrate the tenacity of life despite the challenges. Unfortunately, specific legends are scarce due to the tatarian aster's humble aesthetic and lack of flamboyance compared to other floral species."...from my plant app Picture This.

Tatarian Aster is native to Eastern Asia, with its natural range including Siberia, Mongolia, northern China, Korea and Japan. It has a long history of use as a medicinal herb in China and an edible vegetable in Korea, but is now primarily cultivated as an ornamental in other parts of the world, including the United States. It was introduced to North America and other areas in the early 19th century, where it is now widely grown as a garden plant.

Planted in the full sun it will withstand a wide variety of soil types, though it prefers good drainage. Lights soils may lead to it spreading in the garden a bit too rapidly. 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 finished blooming. This is a tall plant, best used at the back of a wide border or in a naturalized area. You can find more at the link I provided above.

Thanks for looking everyone. 

I hope your week is going well.