Awesome Asters - real star power

There is no bigger star in your fall perennial garden than the brilliant late-blooming and hardy perennial we call Aster. This perennial got its name from the Greek word for “star,” and what a show they put on! Many times referred to as Michaelmas daisy, asters come in hot colors like purple, blue, red, white,  pink, and yellow, and will outshine any plant in your fall-blooming garden. 

Although there are quite a few varieties of aster; New England aster(A. novae-angliae), is one of the Delaware Valley’s most popular cultivars, and is considered a wildflower in Connecticut. Purple Dome is the first dwarf variety in the New England aster. Another common aster is the New York aster (A.novoi-belgii). The New York aster grows shorter than the New England aster. No matter what cultivar;  butterflies love aster.

One really cool fact about asters is that the number of petals it has is a Fibonacci number.  Also, scientists are studying aster because they believe that the aster flower produces pollen that contain toxins deters certain bees.

Growing asters is easy; plant them in full sun. Asters also like moist well-drained soil. If you’re planting a group of asters, be sure to plant them at least 18 inches apart because they form large clumps. If you pinch the blooms before July 4^th, your plant will grow bushier and should bloom through October. You can harvest aster seeds and store for next year. Your perennial garden will give you a good show this fall if you give it the star treatment, and plant asters.