Hello, Alan.

It’s disappointing when we lose perennials that we love.

While New England asters are longtime natives to Ohio, the Grape Crush is a newer hybrid, or cultivar, of the New England aster. In general, asters do best in well drained, loamy soil with full sun. Yours have done well for 2-3 years so it seems like they’ve had that. Is it possible your soil needs nutrients? Your county extension office offers soil testing to help you determine this.  

To replace your Grape Crush, with similar size options, you might consider the many colorful, smaller varieties available such as dwarf coneflowers, sunflowers and Shasta daisies.

If possible, please do replant perennial asters, perhaps in another area of your yard, as they are highly beneficial to pollinators. The following link offers some ideas should you choose to do that.

https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/283/Best-Perennial-Asters/

Thank you for sharing your question with Ask a Master Gardener and please be in touch with any further questions.

Happy gardening,