New England Aster is a perennial wildflower native to most regions of the United States and Canada. Plant grows to between 1 and 6 feet in height (though feel free to cut back the stems by mid-July if height becomes an issue) and produces bunches of fragrant, pink to purple blossoms toward the end of summer and into fall. An important source of nectar for migrating Monarch butterflies, Aster is also the host plant for Pearl Crescent butterflies and Northern Pearl Crescent butterflies. Direct sow just beneath the soil in late fall, watering once. For spring planting, mix the seeds with moist soil and refrigerate for 60 days (cold stratification). To start stratified seeds indoor, sow seeds in a flat, keep evenly moist, and provide a soil temperature of 65 to 70 degrees F. Germination should occur in 14-20 days. Asters planted in the spring will typically bloom in the fall.