I was scared away from perennial asters many years ago when the cultivars were more susceptible to the aster yellows disease. When I was looking for some tough replacement plants this spring, I decided it was about time I give asters another try.
Aster ‘Vibrant Dome’ is hardy in Zones 3-8 and this beauty grows happily in sun or partial-shade.
The flowers are described as hot pink, but I would say they are more of a pink-tinged royal purple.
‘Vibrant Dome’ grows in a nice little upright clump. My plant started blooming in September and continued well into October. This cultivar is tough and disease-resistant and grows 18 to 20 inches tall.
I planted ‘Vibrant Dome’ next to my never-stops-blooming ‘Cleopatra’ coneflower and some late-blooming goldenrods.
When this plant is big enough to divide, I’m going to plant it in more of my flowerbeds. The color really is vibrant, and it brightens the garden at a time when most of my other plants have called it quits for the year.