Alert’ aster (Aster novi-belgii ‘Alert’) is one of our favorite fall plants as it sets the autumn garden ablaze with its stunning crimson-purple flowers.

As other perennials are setting seed this time of year, fall blooming asters provide the last round of fresh nectar for honey bees and other pollinators.

Unlike other asters that grow several feet tall, ‘Alert’ was bred to have a compact growth habit (about 18″ high x 18″ wide) making it an ideal choice for tucking it into small gardens.

Plants also add to your “fallscaping” design by complementing seed heads on ornamental grasses and the changing colors of trees and shrubs.