Aster
Common Name: Aster, New England Aster
Overview
| Plant Type | Perennial |
| Hardiness Zone | 3 |
Cultivars
|
Cultivar |
Height |
Spread |
Blooms |
Sun |
Planted |
| New England Aster 'Pink Crush' Aster novae-angliae 
| 20-24" | 34-38" | Mid to late season | Full Sun | House garden beds |
| New England Aster 'Purple Dome' Aster novae-angliae 
| 18" | 12-24" | Mid to late season | Full Sun | House garden beds |
Late season nectar supply for butterflies & bees.
Ongoing Management
Insect & Disease Control
Mildew - Cut back to ground in Fall (@ end of growing season??)
Fertilization
Fall - fertilize with YumYum mix & good quality compost.
Pruning / Cutting Back
Pinch back stems before midsummer to promote bushiness; this produces a greater number of flowers, and controls the plant height (to avoid flopping over).
Winter - Leave standing over Winter.
Spring - cut back hard to 1-2" above ground.
Propagation
Asters may self-seed if grown in ideal conditions. Cutting back after flowering will reduce or prevent self-seeding.
Seeds can be collected in the late Fall, dried in a paper bag for a couple of weeks, and planted thickly after the last frost.
Division
Divide every year or two in the Spring to control spread and maintain vigor. Use spreading root division. Replant outer growth and discard the centers of older plants.
More Information
Books and Papers
- The Well-Tended Perennial Garden (2011), by Tracy DiSabato-Aust (635.932 DIS 2011).
Web Sites
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eMail comments to me at GardeningBoK @ Gmail.com. |