A late-season powerhouse, this upright perennial lights up the fall garden with masses of daisy-like blooms in shades of blue-violet, pink, or white. Each flower features a golden-yellow center that draws in butterflies and pollinators when few other perennials are in bloom. Native to marsh edges, meadows, and shorelines of eastern North America, it thrives in sunny, well-drained sites, even tolerating poor soils. With its generous height and dense sprays of flowers, it provides both structure and color when the summer garden begins to fade.
Prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soils but adapts to sandy, clay, or nutritionally poor sites. Cut stems back by half in early summer to encourage bushier growth and prevent flopping.