Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Drummond's Aster bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Drummond's aster, Drummond's blue-wood aster, Heart-leaved aster (Symphyotrichum drummondii).
More about drummond's aster
About Drummond's Aster
Symphyotrichum drummondii · also called Drummond's aster, Drummond's blue-wood aster · flowering
Symphyotrichum drummondii is a versatile native perennial found in open woodlands, savannas, woodland edges, and disturbed habitats across the central and eastern United States. It produces masses of small (roughly 1.5 cm) white daisy flowers — often ageing to pale blue-purple — on arching, panicle-branched stems from September to October, making it one of the best late-season nectar sources for butterflies. Uniquely among native asters, it tolerates a wide range of light conditions from full sun to moderate shade, adapting to woodland understory as well as open borders. Symphyotrichum drummondii is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Self-sowing nuisance: In favourable conditions this species self-seeds prolifically and can become weedy. Deadhead spent flowers before seed sets, or thin seedlings in spring to prevent overcrowding.
The reasons drummond's aster isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming drummond's aster traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding drummond's aster a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get drummond's aster to flower
- Maximise sun. Give drummond's aster the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for drummond's aster and get the feeding right with the drummond's aster fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Drummond's Aster flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full drummond's aster care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Drummond's Aster blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my drummond's aster flower?
Drummond's Aster blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make drummond's aster bloom?
Give drummond's aster the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does drummond's aster normally bloom?
Drummond's Aster flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with drummond's aster after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping drummond's aster flowering?
Feeding drummond's aster a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Drummond's Aster care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Drummond's Aster light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Drummond's Aster fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 4114 bloom guides in the Growli library