Aster: Michaelmas Daisy
Along with mums and salvias, Asters are the swan song of late-season flowering color in the garden. There is a wide array of flower colors and plant sizes. Asters are also easy to grow!
Plant care & info
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Aster
Common name: Michaelmas Daisy
250 species from throughout the northern hemisphere and South America.
Most garden asters thrive in well drained, full to partial sun, and regular summer water.
Asters are generally pest free. Powdery mildew & rust are the major diseases. If this occurs, remove the infected foliage (if possible) and spray the plant with copper or other fungicide. Less common problems with asters include verticillium wilt, leaf spot, and leafhoppers (which transmit disease).
Asters can commonly flop in the garden by the time they are blooming. To avoid this, simply prune back by one half to two thirds in early to mid June. This practice often results in more flowers as well. Plants should be divided every two to three years to maintain a healthy stand.
Once the plants turn yellow in the fall, cut to the ground. Fertilize in spring with an all-purpose slow release food.
Attracts bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Deer resistant. Great cut flowers. Long, late season bloom.
Asters can be propagated by seed, division or cuttings—all of which are best done in spring. Seeds can be sown indoors two weeks before the last frost, or directly outdoors after the last frost. Seed grown asters will bloom in their second year.
Division of thick plants will allow for more air circulation, which makes the plant less prone to powdery mildew. Use basal shoots or stems up to 2” long for cuttings. Keep cuttings moist until thoroughly rooted.
Asters belong to one of the largest, most diverse flowering plant families, Asteraceae. They have evolved to utilize insects and wind for extremely efficient pollination and seed dispersal. Asters are native throughout the globe with nearly fifty species native to the Pacific Northwest. In an effort to narrow this vast family, this article will focus on perennial species commonly used in the garden.
Taller varieties are wonderful cut flowers and combine well with ornamental grasses, goldenrod (Solidago) and roses that make good hips (such as R. rugosa). Shorter varieties provide mounds of bright color in containers and border edging. They combine well with ornamental cabbage and kale, oregano ‘Kent Beauty’, and low evergreen shrubs such as heather (Erica).
Explore More Aster
New York Aster
Aster dumosus: New York Aster
Compact plants growing 12-24″ tall and wide. They are hybrids of A. nova-belgi, and often referenced under that species name. Great for the front border and containers. Hardy in zones 4-8.
Varieties include:
Aster dummosus: ‘Professor Kippenburg’
Lavender-blue flowers and bright gold centers. Grows 12-24″ tall and 24″ wide.
Aster dummosus: ‘Woods Blue’ or ‘Woods Pink’
Lavender blue or rich pink flowers with bright yellow centers. Grows 12-16″ tall 16″ wide. Excellent mildew and rust resistance.
Prince
Aster Lateriflorus ‘Prince’
Fantastic burgundy foliage contrasts with small white flowers with pink centers. Grows 2-3′ tall 18″ wide. Hardy in zones 4-8.
Moench
A very long blooming aster (summer to fall) with large lavender flowers. Grows to 24″ tall and 12-20″ wide. Full to partial sun. Regular water. Zone 4-9.
New England Aster
Aster Nova-Angliae: New England Aster
This group includes tall, showy cultivars perfect for the back of the border or weaved in among shrubs. They are native to northeastern damp meadows. The cluster blooms show off.. Bloom time: August through September. Fabulous cut flowers. Hardy to zone 4.
Some favorite varieties include:
Aster nova-angliae: ‘Alma Potschke’
A show stopper with hot pink thread-like petals on tall 4′ stems.
Aster nova-angliae: ‘Purple Dome’
A compact grower to 18-24” high & wide. Royal purple, semi-double blooms are complimented by bronzy bracts. Hardy in zones 4-8. This one pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses such as Carex testacea and Pennisetum ‘Moudry’.
Michaelmas Daisy
Aster novi-belgii: New York Aster, Michaelmas Daisy
These asters are similar to their New England cousins but shorter with smooth toothed leaves. Most commonly found available with other fall color plants such as mums. 18-24″ tall and wide. Hardy to zones 3-9. Perfect in containers
Varieties include:
Henri I
Double light blue, 12-18″ and
Marie III
Dark pink double flowers
Monte Casino
Clouds of tiny white flowers set this aster apart. The airy texture of this plant makes it the perfect filler in the garden or vase.Grows 3′ high and wide. Hardy in zones 5-9.
