Aster Identification

Identification

• The aster's extremely long, narrow leaves can be somewhat hairy. These flowering plants resemble daisies, which are distant cousins. Many asters are white, although they can have a pinkish tint. They generally bloom from August through October and are one of the last plants to keep producing flowers in fall. Asters produce small seeds that resemble fleas.

Size

• These plants come in various heights, but they generally grow from 6 to 8 inches tall, depending on the particular species and cultivars. Most aster cultivars are short, although others, such as heath asters (ericoides) can grow up to 2 feet tall, according to Dr. Leonard Perry of the University of Vermont Extension office. Calico asters (lateriflorus horizontalis), which are named for their many white and pink flowers, grow from 1 to 2 feet tall.

Types

• Aster Starlights, often grown in patio containers and in borders, are compact flowers that produce spider-like blooms in purple, blue, rose and scarlet shades. The Astrantia Major "Florence" is known for its lavender-pin flowers that bloom in late summer and early fall.

  The Astrantia major "Venice" cultivar produces striking ruby-red blooms that almost look burgundy. Aster Matsumotos have a star-like head and stunning flowers with brightly colored petals that encircle a yellow center.

Misconception

• Although an aster looks like a single flower, it's really a collection of hundreds of tiny flowers, known as florets. Each aster flower has a center filled with flat orange or yellow disc florets. Colored petals are attached to the ray florets that encircle the perimeter of the florets. Besides white, the petals, which are usually 1 to 2 inches wide, may be red, pink, blue, lavender or purple, according to Jennifer Schultz Nelson on the University of Illinois Extension website.

Considerations

• Asters need to grow in full sun in well-drained soil. These flowers are prone to developing several fungal infections, such as root rot, when there's excess moisture. Dig up asters and divide them every two to three years so they will continue to perform well, according to Nelson on the University of Illinois Extension website. Pinch or shear them back, periodically, through midsummer, so they can branch out and maintain their compact and bushy growth pattern.