DESCRIPTION: Asters are beautiful perennials that are found wild in North America and southern Europe. These plants range in height with the different varieties; some may be as small as 12 inches or as tall as 5 feet. These plants bloom during the summer and fall. A. lateriflorus 'Delight' is a spreading plant, growing up to 4 feet with a spread of 3 feet. It has small, narrow, lance-shaped, dark green leaves. It produces tiny, flowers in thick sprays in the fall. They are white with a gold center. A. novi-belgii 'White Swan' is a pretty plant that grows up to 4 feet high. The flowers resemble Daisies and are produced in compact heads during the fall. The petals are pale pink and they surround a tiny, yellow disk. Its medium green leaves are lance-shaped. A. novi-belgii 'Jenny' produces Daisy-like, double flowers in dense bunches. They are red with darker red central disks. A. Amellus 'King George' is a bushy plant growing up to 20 inches high and wide. This plant has rough, hairy, lance-shaped to oval leaves. In the fall, large flowers colored deep violet-blue with a golden central disk are produced. A. novi-belgii 'Chequers' grows to a height of 3 feet with a 24- to 30-inche spread. It is a vigorous plant with lance-shaped, medium green leaves and thick clusters of purple flowers with golden centers. A. linosyris 'Goldilocks' is an upright plant with slender, lance-shaped leaves. In late summer and fall it produces small, golden yellow flowers in wiry-stemmed clusters. These flowers are interesting because the disk florets form the flowers rather than the ray florets. These are just a few of the many varieties. More will be mentioned below in the varieties section.
POTTING: Asters love fertile, humus-rich soil that has adequate drainage and will stay fairly moist throughout the summer. They can be grown in full sun or light shade. The taller varieties may need to be supported with stakes or some other prop. Pluck off the dead blooms to prevent self-sown seedlings, which may be inferior to the hybrids. Some Asters, especially hybrids of A. novi-belgii are susceptible to powdery mildew. In regions where this is a problem, treat the plants regularly with a fungicide, or choose resistant hybrids.
PROPAGATION: These plants may be lifted and divided into pieces in the spring or fall. Softwood cuttings in the spring may also be used to increase these plants.
VARIETIES: A. Amellus & var. King George, Queen Mary, Herman Lons, BeautJ Parfait, Louise, Sonia; A. cordifolius; A. linariifolius; A. Kumleinii; A. acris; A. spectabilis; A. tataricus; A. alpinus & var. albus, roseus, Goliath; A. Farreri; A. Forrestii; A. diplostephioides; A. Ericoides & var. White Heather; A. novae-angliae & var. Herbstschnee, Harrington's Pink, Barr's Pink, Andenken an Alma P` tschke; A. novi-belgii & var. White Swan, Apple Blossom, Lassie, Carnival, Royal Ruby, Freda Ballard, Fellowship, Patricia Ballard, Orlando, Jenny, Professor Anton Kippenburg, Marie Ballard, Peace, Royal Velvet, Chequers; A. Lateriflorus & var. Delight, Horizontalis'; A. Cordifolius & var. Silver Spray; A. Frikartii & var. M` nch, Wunder von St@ fa; A. Thomsonii & var. Nanus; A. Turbinellus; A. Linosyris & var. Goldilocks.