Asters are a wide and varied group of
plants belonging to the Compositae along with daisies. This
describes their composite flowers which are apparently simple with a
halo of bright simple petals around a central button. The reality is
that their flower is actually quite complicated and the button in the
middle is made of many individual flowers that open from the outside
inwards. This composite flower is what gives them their name and ensures
that the flowers are long lasting.
The perennial Asters flower in late
summer and fall and are great at providing a show of color and vibrancy
in the garden when many other plants are starting to flag. There is a
whole range of shades in pinks and purples almost reaching a true
blue, but not quite.
They are relatively trouble free. The
taller varieties that reach over 36 inches should be staked when the
reach about half that height so that they don't flop onto each other and
spoil the display. nova-angliae and nova-belgii types should be split
and re-planted every third year to maintain their vigor.
Asters offered as seed
are usually half-hardy annual varieties and not perennials.
