Aster Elliottii - Purple Marsh Aster (Bare Root)
Best tall perennial for gardeners wanting late-season color in boggy areas.
The Aster Elliottii, or Purple Marsh Aster, is a striking perennial that brings vibrant color to your garden. It features large green basal leaves that give rise to impressive 6-8 foot tall spikes. In late fall, these spikes are adorned with a spectacular display of 1-inch pink-purple daisy-like flowers, making it a late-season bloomer. This variety thrives in full sun to partial shade and is well-suited for boggy conditions, attracting bees and butterflies with its showy blooms. It's also noted as a useful cut flower.
$9.94
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
3
/ 955
#3 in Aquatic Plants
Price vs Category Average
-46%
Below average
Sun Requirements
Full Sun, Full Sun to Partial Shade, Partial or Dappled Shade
/ Full Sun, Full Sun to Partial Shade, Partial or Dappled Shade
Who it's for
- Budget-conscious landscapers establishing large perennial patches efficiently
- Gardeners supporting late-season pollinators with vibrant autumn color
- Pond owners managing boggy soil or shallow water edges
Who should skip it
- Impatient planters seeking immediate visual impact and lush foliage
- Minimalist gardeners wanting low-maintenance plants that stay put
- Shady garden owners lacking consistent direct sunlight exposure
Performance breakdown
Pollinator Appeal
High-impact blooms act as a magnet for local bees and butterflies.
Bog Adaptability
Thrives in saturated soil conditions where many other perennials struggle.
Vertical Impact
Impressive height creates a dramatic architectural statement in any pond landscape.
Seasonal Longevity
Provides essential late-season color when most garden plants have finished blooming.
Maintenance Ease
Robust growth habits require minimal intervention for consistent, healthy performance.
Hardiness Range
Reliable winter survival across a broad spectrum of temperate climate zones.
Key Specs
Sun Requirements
Full Sun, Full Sun to Partial Shade, Partial or Dappled Shade
Maximum recommended zone
Zone 11
Plant Height
36 - 48 inches
Plant Spread
24 - 36 inches
Leaves
Semi-evergreen
Flowers
Showy
Flower Color
Lavender
Bloom Size
Under 1"
Features
- Spectacular late-season blooms
- Tall spikes reaching 6-8 feet
- Attracts pollinators
- Ideal for bog gardens
- Versatile cut flower
- Easy to care for
- Hardy in zones 3-8
- Semi-evergreen foliage
What customers say
Customers consistently highlight the superior quality of the Aster Elliottii bare roots, noting they arrive robust and ready for planting. The primary theme is viability; users are impressed by how quickly these pond plants establish and begin to thrive, often exceeding expectations for bare root stock. This ease of establishment translates directly into high satisfaction, making the planting process simple even for novice pond keepers. The resulting vibrant purple blooms are a valued aesthetic payoff.
Know before you buy
While the plant typically reaches 36 to 48 inches in standard garden settings, it can grow significantly taller, reaching spikes of 6 to 8 feet under ideal conditions.
The Aster Elliottii is a marginal plant, meaning it thrives in boggy, saturated soil or shallow water at the edge of a pond. It should be rooted in substrate rather than fully submerged like a deep-water aquatic plant.
This variety is hardy in zones 3 through 8, meaning it can withstand cold winters in those regions. It features semi-evergreen foliage, so it may retain some leaves depending on the severity of your local climate.
Yes, this plant is completely shrimp and snail safe. It is a non-toxic addition to your pond environment and will not harm your aquatic inhabitants.
For the best results, provide high light conditions. It performs best in full sun but will also tolerate partial or dappled shade.
This is a late-season bloomer. You can expect to see its signature lavender, daisy-like flowers appearing in late fall, providing a burst of color when many other plants have finished their season.
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