Aster

Botanical/Latin
   Aster

Pronunciation
   As-tur

Common Name
   Hardy Aster

Hardiness zone range
   4 - 8

General Comments
Asters form an enormous group - over 600 species including annuals as well as perennials - of showy plants . As perennials, they rank among some of the most important of our garden plants. Typically, they have masses of daisy-like flowers that are carried in great abundance and in a wide range of color. They flower mainly in late summer and fall, but some will commence flowering as early as mid-summer and others continue the display until the arrival of frost in late autumn and early winter.

Uses
Lasting in flower for many weeks, they are useful subjects for sunny borders, mixed beds with shrubs, conifers or grasses, or any position where the bright, cheery flowers stand out and contribute color to the beauty of summer and fall. They are good cut flowers. Each strong, woody stem carries a flat topped mass of flowers and buds; they are often used as fillers in mixed arrangements or used in single color bouquets.

Light Preference
Full Sun.

Culture
Tough and durable, they are not difficult plants to grow. Well drained soils that have been amended to include some organic matter are ideal. This, together with a light mulch, helps to retain some moisture during dry summer periods and reduces the likelihood of powdery mildew which seems to be worse when drought stress occurs. Light applications of well balanced fertilizer applied in spring and early summer will also help to ensure full and healthy plants. It is a good idea to lift and divide the clumps every 3-4 years; this keeps them vigorous and increases the display.

Background
The botanical name refers to the flower heads and comes from the Latin aster meaning a star. Legend describes the goddess Astera looking down to earth and, seeing no stars, was saddened and began to cry. Where her tears fell, Asters sprang up. The hybrids and cultivars we have today are descended mostly from parent species that are native to the eastern United States. It is thought that the first Asters were introduced to Europe by John Tradescant (the younger) in 1637. European gardeners liked the bright, colorful, late flowering qualities of Aster novi-belgii (New York Asters). They eventually became firm favorites, and many hybrids were developed in the Britain and Germany. They became known as Michaelmas Daisies, because they flowered around the time of the feast of St. Michael. Gardeners and nursery people on the American side of the Atlantic have also bred and selected several fine cultivars. The Woods series 'Wood's Pink', 'Wood's Blue' and 'Wood's Purple' are examples, as is the wonderful dwarf purple 'Purple Dome'. It was spotted growing in a field in Pennsylvania by Dr. Richard Lighty, and, after testing it, he introduced it in 1990. We list it and the others that, in our experience, do best in our garden zones.

Splendor Suggestions
To encourage short, stocky, compact plants that are laden with flowers, trim back the young growth in late spring and early summer. This makes them throw extra side shoots and become much more bushy. Blooming may be delayed slightly, but the overall effect of solid mounds of color is well worth the short wait.

Companion Plants
The rounded, mounding habit of the compact varieties can be contrasted with the vertical emphasis of grasses. The white striped foliage and light airy flower spikes of Miscanthus 'Morning Light' or 'Variegatus' could be positioned behind or to the side of a grouping. Miscanthus 'Silberfeil', with its more subtle silvery stripe, also works well. Where space is limited, try Pennisetums (Dwarf fountain grass) or the variegated reed grass Calamagrostis 'Overdam'. Have fun experimenting with color combinations. The various colors and shades provide the opportunity to create stunning associations, and since they transplant well in either late fall or spring, modifications are easily made and refined. The white, blue, and lilac shaded cultivars work well with Solidago 'Golden Fleece', Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' or Heliopsis 'Ballerina'; while the pink, red, and purple ones are nice with Boltonias, Nipponicanthemums or late flowering flushes of Gaura and Gypsophila.