Asters are daisy-like perennials with starry-shaped flower heads that range in color from white to blue to purple. They bring delightful beauty to the garden in late summer and autumn, when many of our summer blooms may be fading. Here’s how to grow asters in your garden!
About Asters
There are quite a few species and varieties of asters out there! The two most commonly encountered asters in the home gardening world are the New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) and the New York aster (S. novi-belgii), but you will see a range of hybrid varieties available in showy pinks, blues, and purples at garden centers. “Wild type” species native to your region may also be available and are generally a wise choice ecologically speaking, despite not being as flashy as the cultivated varieties. Learn more about recommended varieties further down this page.
Asters attract great numbers of bees and butterflies, providing the pollinators with an important late-season supply of nectar. Thanks to the aster’s late bloom time, they are sometimes called “Michaelmas daisies,” which refers to the holiday of the same name that occurs annually on September 29!
The plant is versatile and can be used in many places—borders, rock gardens, or wildflower gardens, to name a few. Depending on the variety, the plant’s height can range from 8 inches to 8 feet, so you should be able to find one suitable for your garden.
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So if I already planted them
So if I already planted them I may be out of luck ? : /
My aster's leaves are turning
My aster's leaves are turning rust color ans thinning out. They look like they have a disease. What can I do?
Did you ever get an answer to
Did you ever get an answer to this. Mine had this so bad this year they didn't have flowers and many died out. I don't understand if it comes back next year and if I need to plant something else.
Asters are often infected
Asters are often infected with rust disease. Common aster rust is caused by the fungus Coleosporium asterum. Read more about this pest at
http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPD...
I bought 6 Asters in the
I bought 6 Asters in the spring - 2 white, 2 pink, 2 purple, all with yellow centres. Plants around 8" tall when I planted them.The flowers lasted a few weeks then died. The plants themselves are surviving, just, but don't seem to be growing at all & I'm afraid they might just die. Having read your site & other books they should flower in summer-autumn? They're planted in a full sun border in a more clay like soil, well drained. The leaves are getting nibbled by tiny slugs which 'm trying to keep under control. I fed them with powdered blood, bone compound which should be suitable for flowering plants. Can't think what else I should do - any suggestions?
There are many varieties of
There are many varieties of asters and most bloom in the fall. Alpine asters bloom in the spring. If your asters bloomed when you planted them they will probably not bloom again this year. Find out what type of asters you have.
This is paresh from gujrat,
This is paresh from gujrat, India.
I planted marigold and dutch roses in my farms. I am planning to plant some asters as well. I have no information of planting asters. Can anyone give me any details????
Just plant in loamy soil and
Just plant in loamy soil and fertilize before blooming. they are pretty forgiving!
Asters are tall, (and bloom
Asters are tall, (and bloom in fall), so you may want to put them in the back of the garden, or on the north side of it, so as to not shade the other plants. Asters like sun, at least partial. For bushier, shorter, bloomier plants, cut back to 8" in early summer (whenever that is in India, in Wisconsin, cutback time is june 8). You may want to cutback only the ones in front. Then the ones in back will bloom first. Other growing details are above in article!
It I'd Febuary and I ordered
It I'd Febuary and I ordered some dwarf asters and they are in a box with small amount of dirt , roots and the greenery is dryed up now but roots look ok. When can I plant these now or later this spring ???? But I am afraid if I don't they will die before then. I live in ky and its giving snow and cold temps. When and what should I do???? Please
You can plant the asters in a
You can plant the asters in a container with soil. Keep them indoors until you can plant them outside after the weather warms up. Keep the soil moist.
Help please!I purchased quite
Help please!I purchased quite a few small growing asters from a mail order co. last year and foolishly planted them in a bunch hopefully to provide a big display of flowers in my quite large garden. They didn't bloom at all last year but grew rapidly together into a tight shrub.I have just divided them into 4 medium size shrubs and transplanted them around the garden. Is this correct and how can I ensure they bloom next Summer/Autumn?
Asters are sturdy plants and
Asters are sturdy plants and transplant well. Keep the transplants watered and make sure they get enough sun (full sun is ideal).
I'm very new at planting. How
I'm very new at planting. How do I plant Peter Blue Aster . I need to plant everything in pots due to roots in mt yard. its Nov 6th and i don't know how to plant it . Help!
Plant asters anytime after
Plant asters anytime after the last spring frost. They'll bloom in late summer and fall.
Uuuggghhhh... I bought 5
Uuuggghhhh... I bought 5 Asters from Home Depot 3 weeks ago... but haven't had time to plant them in the ground. It now Oct 30th... is it too late to get them in the ground here in Madison, WI?
The 7 day forecast shows nothing below 32 degrees for the next seven days. Highs in the mid 40's & 50's if that helps.
If it is too late... how do I winter them indoors?
Chris
Hi Chris, It's OK to plant
Hi Chris,
It's OK to plant your asters now. Plant them as soon as you can and keep them watered until the soil freezes. Add a little mulch around the plants to keep the moisture in. See our planting advice on this page.
I have too many Aster plants
I have too many Aster plants in my garden.They seem to be bullies and very prolific. What is the best way to keep the plant under control and from taking over?
The best way to keep them
The best way to keep them under control is to pull up the unwanted ones. You can also cut the tops off and then keep the area mowed or cover the area with black plastic.
I purchased some Believer
I purchased some Believer Asters for a buck, 1/2 of the plant is dry and brittle, 1/2 green. Will the dry and brittle part return to normal next growing season?
If it is one plant and half
If it is one plant and half is still alive the plant will come back next year. Add some compost around the plant before winter.
Hello and thanks for this
Hello and thanks for this site, love it! Q- I just gathered up seeds from my dry brown Aster blooms. I want to grow Aster plants from the seeds.....now what?
See info above about planting
See info above about planting aster seeds!
Can annual asters be kept
Can annual asters be kept alive indoors until spring
Perennial asters last through
Perennial asters last through the winter in the right zone with lots of mulch, but annual asters will die at the end if their season. You can try to extend the season outdoors with a cold frame to protect from frost or bring indoors but the declining light may end their life cycle.
I just purchased 4 beautiful
I just purchased 4 beautiful purple Asters. There are bees all over them, that I understand. What I don't get is, why are there so many flies on the plant?
Some flies are active
Some flies are active pollinators of sedum, too, not just the bees. Unless you see the plant being chewed on (suggesting a pest), don't worry. At this time of year, plant sources may be low so all the pollinators will visit the asters.
Actually, those may not be
Actually, those may not be flies...they could be Mason Bees. Some Mason Bees look, at first glance, just like flies. But Mason Bees are very gentle, rarely sting and are GREAT pollinators!
My large, late blooming
My large, late blooming asters have been a subtle, light blue for the last several years. This year they are a bright crimson with a smaller flower. Is this transformation common? The blue was prolific and stunning. The crimson is not so impressive.
We've never known our asters
We've never known our asters to change color.
Asters do have anthocyanin, a pigment compound. It looks bright pink in acidic soil environments and reddish-purple in neutral soil. It's possible that the acidity of your soil could affect color. You could have a soil test.
Of course, asters do come in many colors from white and pink to lavender, purple, and blue. What most often happens is that you have a hybrid and the more dominant color starts to take over. This is the more likely explanation.
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