Plant Form: Perennial sub-shrub
Water Use: Very low
Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall and wide
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Spring (March – May), Fall (October)
Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 10°F
Native to: California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah
Mojave Aster adds unexpected color to the normally harsh habitat where it grows naturally. In your garden, the long-stalked flower heads on this perennial sub-shrub hold two-inch-wide, yellow-centered, lavender-petalled flowers that are beautifully iridescent. After plants are established with regular water, they like a summer drought, but expect them to drop some leaves (they won’t like summer water after established). Mojave Aster needs very good drainage of sandy, rocky, gravelly, dry soils. Either late summer rainfall or pruning can stimulate a second flowering in fall. Butterflies and other pollinators can’t resist the flowers, but luckily this California native resists browsing by rabbits. Mojave Aster is lovely in borders, wildflower gardens, rock gardens, bee and butterfly gardens, dry washes, and as a companion plant to cacti and other xeric plants.
THIS MONTH IN YOUR DESERT-SMART LANDSCAPE
Rising temperatures cause changes in plants.
- Change watering schedule from mid-day to early morning or evening as weather heats up to minimize loss through evaporation.
- Maintain good mulch of organic matter covering garden soil throughout the summer to hold in moisture.
- remove (“deadhead”) spent flowers unless you want to collect seeds (such as Penstemons) to stimulate repeat blooming.