Common name: Aster, varies with species
Family: Asteraceae, Aster
Height x width: 6"-8' x 1-3' (depending on species)
Growth rate: moderate
Foliage: alternate, 1-5" long, broad linear or lanceolate, may clasp stem, surfaces may be slightly pubescent
Flowers: 1-2" wide daisy-like flowers in reds, pinks, purples, white; some species with more and smaller flowers; generally fall bloom; single or in corymbose clusters for such as alpinus, amellus, carolinianus, tongolensis
Hardiness: zones 4-8
Soil: well-drained
Light: sun
Pests and Problems: rusts, powdery and downy mildews, leaf spots, aster wilt (Verticillium), chrysanthemum lacebugs, mites, aphids, Japanese beetles
Landscape habit, uses: borders, lower cultivars massed, containers, natural areas, very attractive and one of few late-season plants for bees and butterflies
Other interest: many species native to N. America; from the Greek aster meaning star, refering to the flower appearance; some species such as the yellow linocyris and common asters have been put by some taxonomists in new genera Linocyris and Lasallea, however these changes have not been generally accepted; not to be confused with the annual China Aster, Callistephus; a large genus much worked on by taxonomists, with much breeding of new cultivars especially in middle of this century in England and Germany
Other culture: tall species need staking; many of the low asters such as New York types may need dividing every 2-3 years to maintain vigor; some cultivars, especially new introductions, are grown as a pinched pot crop similar to fall mums
Propagation: seed (18,000 seeds per ounce), division, root or stem cuttings
Species:
The following species and cultivars are the most commonly found in U.S.
commerce, with those marked * the most popular. Species traits such as
flower color may vary with cultivars. Bloom times of fall generally refer
to mid-September for zone 4, and about 10 days earlier for each zone warmer.
| Species | zones | height | flower color | bloom time | native |
| *alpinus | 4-7 | 6-9" | purple | early summer | Europe |
| amellus | 5-7 | 24-30" | purple | fall | Italy |
| carolinianus | 6-9 | 7-12' | pink | fall | SE U.S. |
| cordifolius | 3-8 | 4-6' | pale blue | fall | eastern N. Amer. |
| corymbosus:divaricatus | |||||
| *divaricatus | 4-8 | 1-2' | white | fall | N. Amer. |
| *ericoides | 5-8 | 3-4' | white | fall | N. Amer. |
| x frikartii | 5-8 | 2-3' | lavender | late summer | Swiss hybrid |
| *laevis | 4-8 | 2-3' | blue, violet | fall | N. Amer. |
| lateriflorus | 3-7 | 2-3' | white, pink | fall | N. Amer. |
| linariifolius | 4-8 | 1-2' | blue, violet | fall | N. Amer. |
| macrophyllus | 3-7 | 2-3' | violet | fall | N. Amer. |
| *novae-angliae | 3-8 | 4-6' | various | fall | eastern U.S. |
| *novi-belgii | 3-8 | 1-3' | various | fall | eastern U.S. |
| oblongifolius | 3-8 | 2-3' | purple | fall | east, central U.S. |
| oolentangiensis | 5-8 | 3-5' | blue, pink | fall | eastern N. Amer. |
| pilosus | 5-9 | 2-3' | white | fall | N. Amer. |
| *ptarmicoides | 3-8 | 1-2' | white | fall | central N. Amer. |
| puniceus | 3-8 | 3-4' | various | fall | eastern N. Amer. |
| sericeus | 4-8 | 1-2' | violet, purple | fall | central, eastern U.S. |
| tataricus | 4-8 | 4-6' | purple, blue | fall | Siberia |
| tongolensis | 5-8 | 1-2' | violet, orange center | early summer | western China |
| umbellatus | 3-8 | 4-6' | white | fall | eastern N. Amer. |
| vimineus:lateriflorus |
Additional species notes:
• amellus (a-mell' us)--Italian Aster; hairy (pubescent) stems and leaves, usually seen as cultivars, one of parents of x frikartii
• carolinianus (cair-o-lin-ee-aa' nuss)--Climbing Aster; actually doesn't climb but has long arching stems
• cordifolius (core-di-fol' ee-us)--Heart-leaf Aster; good cut flower, many branches with small flowers under 1" wide, smooth stems, heart-shaped (cordate) basal leaves, thin lanceolate upper leaves
• divaricatus (die-var-i-ca' tuss)--White Wood Aster; thin, nearly black cascading branches spreading to 3', many corymbs of small white star-shaped flowers creating clouds of white; will tolerate shade although with fewer flowers and density
• ericoides (err-i-coy' dees)--Heath Aster; many small needle-like leaves like Erica, many starry flowers covering plant, good cut flower
• x frikartii (fri-car' tee-ii)--Frikart's Aster; a cross from Switzerland in 1920 of amellus x thomsonii, mildew resistant, popular
• laevis (laa' viss)--Smooth Aster; dark stems and bluish-green foliage
• lateriflorus (lat-er-i-floor' us)--Calico Aster; name from the many small flowers white fading pink at various stages creating a calico effect, flowers are on one side of the stems, small leaves turn nice dark reddish fall color; var. horizontalis, Horizontal Aster, has branching in horizontal layers and is more commonly seen than the species
• novae-angliae (no' va an' glee')--New England Aster; the roadside and meadow aster of much of New England and elsewhere, usually seen as cultivars, some cultivars very rust susceptible, good cut
• novi-belgii (no' vee bel' gee)--New York Aster; usually seen as cultivars with most of any aster, also known in UK as Michaelmas Daisies as they bloom around St. Michaelmas day Sept. 29, usually lower than New England asters, many hybrids often listed in catalogs under x dumosus although this hybrid doesn't exist (only as seldom seen species)
• ptarmicoides (tar-mi-coy' dees)--Upland Aster; many white flowers covering plant, leaves to 6" long and ½" wide
• puniceus (pu-ni' cee-us)--Swamp Aster; prefers wet areas, doesn't tolerate dry; hairy stems and leaves, thick stems
• tataricus (ta-tar' i-cuss)--Tatarian Daisy; sturdy so even
with height seldom need staking, large basal leaves to 2' long and 6" wide,
one of latest asters to bloom in late fall
Cultivars:
The following are only the most often seen in U.S. commerce of about
200 available, with over 400 cultivars available in the U.K.
| Cultivar | species | flowers | other |
| *'Alert' | novi-belgii | crimson, double | dwarf 1' |
| *'Alma Potschke' | novae-angliae | bright rose | |
| 'Bonningale White' | novi-belgii | white | medium 3' |
| 'Crimson Brocade' | novi-belgii | crimson | medium 3' |
| 'Eventide' | novi-belgii | violet-blue, semi-double | medium 3-4' |
| 'Fanny's' | novae-angliae | blue | |
| *'Harrington's Pink' | novae-angliae | salmon-pink | |
| *'Hella Lacey' | novae-angliae | violet-blue | |
| 'Honeysong Pink' | novae-angliae | pink, yellow centers | |
| 'Jin-Dai' | tataricus | blue | 3-5' tall, early |
| 'Marie Ballard' | novi-belgii | lavender blue | |
| *'Monch' | x frikartii | lavender blue | sturdy |
| 'Monte Casino' | ericoides | white | popular cut flower |
| 'Patricia Ballard' | novi-belgii | rose pink, semi-double | medium 3' |
| 'Peter Harrison' | novi-belgii | pink | dwarf 12-18" |
| *'Professor Kippenburg' | novi-belgii | lavender blue, semi-double | dwarf 9-12" |
| *'Purple Dome' | novae-angliae | deep blue | 2' tall mound habit |
| 'Red Star' | novi-belgii | red | dwarf 15" |
| 'Rose Serenade' | novi-belgii | soft pinkish lavender | dwarf 15-18" |
| 'Royal Opal' | novi-belgii | blue | dwarf 8-10" |
| 'Schneekissen':'Snow Cushion' | |||
| 'September Ruby' | novae-angliae | ruby red | |
| 'Snow Cushion' | novi-belgii | white | dwarf 6-8" |
| 'Violet Carpet' | novi-belgii | violet | dwarf 8" |
| 'Wartburgstern':'Wartburg Star' | |||
| *'Wartburg Star' | tonlogensis | lavender blue, orange center | |
| 'Winston Churchill' | novi-belgii | red | medium 2-3' |
| *'Wonder of Staefa' | x frikartii | light blue | |
| 'Wunder von Staefa':'Wonder of Staefa' |
(New England and Purple Dome photos courtesy Missouri Botanical garden plantfinder; ericoides courtesy commons wikimedia, Cody Hough)
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