Showy Aster, Eastern Showy Aster or Purple Wood Aster, has a large inflorescence. Disk flowers are bright yellow and ray flowers are bright blue/purple. Typically lives in sandy to loamy, and dry woodland soils. The root system is rhizomatous. Uses in the garden include rock gardens, short meadows, and heathlands. A great addition to an ornamental, short flower bed. It can act as a ground cover in areas of dry, sandy, coastal soils. Notice, NY Flora atlas states it is S2 - Typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, acres, or factors making it vulnerable. For your knowledge, this plant recruited itself into our Seed Increase plot here on site, so collections are made annually.