Asters are flowering perennials producing daisy-like flowers with many narrow petals. It is a late summer blooming flower. Asters are an important late season food source for butterflies, providing an excellence source of nectar.
Classification
There are more than 600 species of true asters. The most common asters in North America are the New England Asters and the New York Asters.
A. amellus/italian aster: 2 feet tall, violet, yellow centered blooms 2 inches across
A. Carolinianus/climbing aster: Unusual climber 10 to 20 feet, fall blooming, pink flower
A. cordifolius/blue wood aster: 6 feet tall, blue blooms
A. divaricatus/white wood aster: White wood aster plant will thrive in shade, small pure white flowers
A.frikartii/frikart’s aster/wonder of staffa: 2.5 feet, sparse weedy looking foliage, daisy-like, lavender-blue flowers with lots of narrow petals
A. novae-angliiae/new england aster/alma potschke: 3 feet, sparse weedy looking foliage, daisy-like, rose pink flowers with lots of narrow petals
A.novi-belgii/new york aster/audrey: 16 inches, sparse weedy looking foliage, daisy-like, lavander-blue flowers with lots of narrow petals
A. tartaricus: Giant 5 to 7 feet tall with 2 feet foliage, one inch wide blue flower.
How Big are Asters?
Asters can grow 1 to 4 feet tall.
What Kind of Light is Best for Asters?
Asters grow best in full sun. It can also thrive in part-sun condition.
When is the Best Time to Plant Asters?
Best time to plant asters is during early Spring.
Colors of Aster Flowers
Aster flowers come in a variety of colors-purple, pink, blue, lavander and red with yellow center.
What’s the Best Soil for Asters?
Asters grow best in moist, well-drained, loamy soil.
How Deep to Plant Asters?
Asters grow best when planted 3 to 6 inches deep to cover the roots.
Zone Hardiness for Asters
Asters grow best in 3,4,5,6,7,8 Hardiness Zones
How to Plant and Take Care of Asters
Aster adapts well to most soil, it presents few problems except for mildew on its leaves in late autumn. Plant aster in the mid-section or at the back of your garden beds and borders, depending on their height; you may plant some high foliage plants in front of the aster. Water regularly, stake plants as they grow and pinch back stems to make them thicker and encourage more blooms.
How to Propagate Asters
For best bloom, divide asters every two to three years in early spring. Discard the old, woody, central parts of the clumps. Immediately replant the divided vigorous, young, outer sections of the plant in sunny backside of your garden bedding. Stake plants as they grow and pinch back them stems to make them thicker and encourage more blooms. Another way of to propagate Aster is to plant from seed.
Organic Soil Mix for Asters
The following is a simple organic mixture for bedding of Aster.
1 part peat moss
1 part other organic material such as earthworm castings, compost. Leaf mold or Nitrogen stabilized bark
1 part builders’ sand
Dig and amend the soil with above mix, plant the Aster into this soil. After planting, cover the aster roots with organic soil mix, immediately water thoroughly.
How to Use Earthworms to Help Asters Grow Better
You can use earthworms to help asters grow better. The day after planting your aster, dig a small ½ inch hole beside the plant. Then put a dozen live earthworms into the hole, cover the earthworms with soil to prevent the birds from eating your earthworms. Live earthworms can be purchased online and is useful for plant growth.