Flower:

Flowers are 1 to 1½ inches across, with 20 to 35 petals (ray flowers), and a bright yellow center that turns reddish with age. Petal color ranges from lavender to purple to blue-violet.

The bracts are narrow with pointed tips and spread out away from the flower base. The plant branches frequently and can have many flowers.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are generally oblong; very narrow with pointed tips and no leaf stem. They have a rough texture and are fairly stiff. Those near the base of the plant fall off early, leaving the lower part of the main stem bare. Lower leaves are up to 2½ inches long and less than ½ inch wide, becoming progressively smaller as they ascend the stem. Near the flowers the leaves may be only about ½ inch long. Attachment is alternate. The stems are slender and brown, and may be slightly hairy.

Notes:

This is one of the last flowers to bloom in the fall. There is no floral scent, but the leaves give off a pleasant aroma when crushed, and is where the common name comes from. Aromatic Aster probably most closely resembles Silky Aster (S. sericeum) but its leaves are silky hairy, the flower bracts are much wider, and the flower center disk is pale yellow.