This member of the aster family can grow up to 8 feet tall. It does well in a perennial garden where it prefers to be able to access wetter soil, but can tolerate some drought conditions. Its purple flowers are attractive to pollinators.

Native range: Eastern North America from Massachusetts to Ohio, south to Georgia and Mississippi

Size: 5-7 feet tall, space 1 per 3 square feet apart

Growing conditions: Full to partial sun, average to wet soil

Bloom period: July through September

Wildlife value: Attracts butterflies, bees, and other pollinators; seeds eaten by birds; supports specialized bees; nectar source for late-season pollinators

Garden benefits: Attracts pollinators and birds, deer resistant, tolerant of various soil types