How to Select Aster Plants
Asters are easy-to-grow flowers. They look like daisies but are related to sunflowers. Asters have yellow centers to their flowers. They come in many colors, and species range from under a foot tall to over 6 feet tall. These traditional flowers range from cold climates like New York to hot regions like New Mexico. Asters grow wild as native plants and also thrive as cultivated hybrids. They are excellent cutting flowers. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Select tall, hardy New England asters for easy-care flowers. New England asters come in varieties from 3 to 6 feet tall. This perennial is native to the northeastern United States. It tolerates moist soil and cool climates but is hybridized to a wide range of colors and growing zones. These asters are excellent backgrounds for a garden or for a colorful tall border along a fence or property line.
-
2
Plant boggy or moist garden spots with New York asters. Similar to New England varieties, they grow 2 to 5 feet tall. These perennials do well in moist soil and thrive across the United States. Like many asters, these are also called Michaelmas daisies. Michaelmas, named for the Archangel Michael, is celebrated on September 29. The flowers are named for the holiday due to late summer and early fall blooming in time for celebrations.
-
-
3
Accent a dry region or low water garden with Western or Purple aster. These plants are not as water-thirsty as their New England and New York relatives. They are often found wild along roadsides and in fields. They are low-maintenance and low-moisture plants. They grow 1 to 3 feet tall. These asters are nice purple flower additions in a native garden.
-
4
Grow a striking cut flower such as the Monte Casino, a popular white aster that may bloom twice a year, once in spring and once in fall. It does not tolerate cold weather well but is an excellent cutting flower in temperate zones. These asters grow up to 4 feet tall and spread nearly as wide.
-
5
Use Alpine Aster for low-growing mass bedding. The height is less than 1 foot. These asters thrive in rock gardens. They form excellent borders along a wall or rockery. They look like ground cover but are ideal for cut-flower arrangements.
-
6
Plant native asters, goldenrod and bluebonnets as a wildflower garden. Mix them with coreopsis or a wildflower seed mix for full-season color. The perennial asters provide a flower stand while the annual wildflowers come and go around them.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Use asters as a color clump planted among shrubs.
Plant asters as part of a butterfly garden.
Some asters such as the White Wood Aster are toxic and can be irritating to skin. Handle them with care or use garden gloves.
Resources
- Photo Credit Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, GNU Free Documentation License
