This native perennial has erect, many branched stems usually 6-18 inches tall. Alternate leaves are oblong to broadly linear. The lower leaves are from 1-2 inches long and less than 1/2 inch wide, becoming smaller above and often reduced to small bracts at the tips of branches where the few to many flower heads arise. Smooth leaf margins have short, stiff hairs which are pressed flat against the surface of the leaf edge. Each flower head is about 1 inch wide with up to 30 bluish-purple, rarely white, petal-like ray florets surrounding the yellow to reddish-purple central disk. The small seeds with attached tufts of light brown hairs are scattered by the wind.

Although both Aromatic Aster and Silky Aster (S. sericeum) with its fuzzy, grayish leaves have been seen in Knull Prairie at Neale Woods, both are rare.  Any blue/purple-flowered aster seen in the restored prairies at NW or FF is most likely New England Aster (S. nova-angliae). It is taller and less branched, has larger clasping leaves and larger flowers with more ray florets (usually 50-100).