Aster Lady in Black is Grimm's Gardens 2026 October Plant of the Month. I first came across this aster in 2018 after the Kansas Native Plant Society's Annual Wildflower Weekend in Cloud County, KS. I was heading back into Concordia, and decided to take a stop at a local, but out of the way garden center.
During my visit, I came across a number of unique native plants and cultivars, but none were quite as eye-catching as this aster. When I first saw them available from one of our growers in 2024, I knew it would help fill a late-season niche in the garden.
All About Lady in Black
Although Calico Aster, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, is native to the eastern United States, Lady in Black comes from a plant breeder in Holland. In the early period of the US, plant collectors sent millions of plants overseas to buyers in Europe and Asia. Calico aster was one of those.
After rigorous testing in a Chicago Botanical Garden trial of 119 different aster species and cultivars, Lady in Black was one of only 7 asters to receive the highest possible rating for blooming. Between 2003 and 2009, all these asters were trialed.
Lady in Black has dark, purple-black leaves and stems through the growing season. In October, flowers erupt on the plant in white, with pink centers. Its upright habit and flower show make it an excellent choice for middle of the garden.
Aster Lady in Black grows 2 to 4 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide. Maintenance is easy for this native perennial. You can just cut it down to a few inches tall late in the fall or anytime from December through April, before the new growth emerges. It has few pests and diseases, although aster rust can be an issue in extremely wet or humid locations. It grows in Zones 3 to 8, in full to part sun.
Companion Plants
While this aster could potentially stand alone in a bed of groundcovers or even as a focal point in mass, many of out natives prefer to have companion plants around them. Lady in Black is the same.
I like to use natives in various ways throughout the garden. Sometimes I weave them into a tapestry of meadow grasses and forbs. Other times I use them in bunches among foreigners. You can even use Lady in Black in the pot, among mums and pumpkins for an autumn display on the porch.
Wherever you choose to use this aster, add these companion plants for a better visual effect.
- Wild Quinine
- Sedum Matrona
- Sedum Autumn Fire
- Little Bluestem Smoke Signal
- Little Bluestem Twilite Zone
- Big Bluestem Blackhawks
- Switchgrass Cheyenne Sky
- Switchgrass October Sky
- Blue Mist Flower
- Caryopteris Beyond Midnight
- Culver's Root
- Russian Sage Denim 'N Lace
- Russian Sage Sage Advice
- Rudbeckia Treasure Trove
Conclusion
Aster Lady in Black is a great addition if you are looking for late season color. Or if you are wanting to add an aster with interest and pollinator power. Lady in Black serves up both. Add it from our store today, or come to the nursery.
Happy planting!
