Plant This Aster Cultivar In A Pot Now For Lovely Fall Blooms Pollinators Will Love

A container garden on a porch, with pots of flowers and evergreens, has an appealing aesthetic, but if you've ever tried to grow one and failed, you know it's not as easy as some gardeners make it look. From giving a potted lavender plant a boost in the spring to deadheading geraniums throughout the summer, the secret to growing a fantastic container garden lies in choosing the right varieties and giving them everything they need. For an aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) that stays bushy and compact, the cultivar 'October Skies' is one to try. Named after the color of the sky in October, you'll get weeks of deep blue aster blooms from this plant from August until the end of the season that will feed pollinators during the fall.

Despite the name, the flowers of aromatic asters don't have any scent. Instead, it's the crushed leaves that smell like balsam. Although deer will avoid aromatic asters, they attract plenty of pollinators even without a scent. This aster is perfect for containers because it only grows to around 18 inches, about half as tall as old-fashioned aromatic asters which, at 3 feet, are too large for most containers. Whether you use 'October Skies' as a centerpiece or let it shine on its own, the blossoms are a nice contrast against stunning fall flowers like calendula and marigolds, which also attract pollinators later in the season.

Because 'October Skies' is drought-tolerant and one of the best low-maintenance perennials to grow in pots, it's easy to grow in a container as long as you use a well-draining potting mix, give it full sun, and allow the top two inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Container plants dry out faster than those in the ground, so check it regularly throughout the growing season. It's also smart to repot it in the spring every few years to prevent it from becoming root-bound.

During the heat of summer, it may need more water, but once temperatures drop and fall rains come, you can taper back and enjoy the flowers. While 'October Skies' is hardy in zones 5 to 8, a container plant is more susceptible to winter kill, so it's best to move the pot to a sheltered location or insulate it from the cold. You may also need to water it once or twice during the winter depending on how much rain your region gets.