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Garden mum and Aromatic aster: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.

COMMON CHOICE Garden mum Chrysanthemum × morifolium	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
	GO NATIVE
Native range
Garden hybrid of Chinese species	U.S.A. to NE. Mexico.See state guides
Sunlight
Full sun	Full sun
Soil moisture
Moist, well-drained soil	Dry soil / Average moisture
Mature height
1–3 ft	1–3 ft
Mature spread
1–2 ft	1–3 ft
USDA hardiness zones
5–9	3–8
Season of interest
Fall	Summer–Fall
Garden & wildlife value
Flowers can attract butterflies.	Late native flowers feed pollinators, and hollow stems can shelter nesting bees.
Growing notes
Forms a flowering mound. Cultivars vary widely in flower shape, color, and winter survival.	Use well-drained soil; leave some cut stems standing to support stem-nesting bees.
Growing information	Growing information Native range: Kew

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.