
Picton suggests cultivars, Symphyotrichum ericoides ‘Golden Spray’, and S. Put Them in a Container Use a single bushy plant, or create a mini-landscape with smaller asters and grasses. Here, Aster ×frikartii ‘Mönch’ is joined by Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’, Rudbeckia subtomentosa, Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’, Verbena bonariensis, Sedum ‘Matrona’, and Rosa ‘Rosemary Rose’, sweeps of Japanese forest grass, and black mondo grass.

Planting asters alongside late-blooming perennials and grasses with strong color brings the autumn garden to life. In some areas foliar rust and powdery mildew can be a problem, while lace bugs pose the biggest threat when it comes to pest damage. The frequency of division varies depending on the species and cultivar, but most will benefit from division every 2 to 4 years. This will give them the entire growing season to overcome the shock. Whether you’re dividing to control the size or to propagate them, do it in spring just as new shoots are emerging. Do not apply fertilizer once they have started blooming as it may shorten the bloom time. Some gardeners say a layer of organic mulch will supply all the nutrients they need, while others suggest a light application of an organic fertilizer at the start of their growing season. Taller stemmed varieties may require staking. Learn more about pinching and deadheading here: Pruning Garden Shrubs and Perennials. Leave a few wilted blooms at the end of the season if you want them to self-sow.

Pinching back stems, or deadheading, several times before mid-July helps to control plant height, promote bushiness, and encourages blooming through the entire season. Mulching to reduce water loss is an important strategy for preventing disease. New York aster ( Symphyotrichum novi-belgii) cultivars have shallow roots and may need more frequent watering during the summer, especially when planted in free-draining soils. Once established, they require little watering, unless conditions have become unusually dry and the plants show signs of stress.

China aster ( Callistephus chinensis), which belongs to the same plant family discussed here, is actually an annual. Other, less common, types include alpine, California, tatarian, heart-leaved, big leaf, sea, short’s, crooked-stem, Frikart’s, Italian, and East Indies. Aromatic ( Symphyotrichum oblongifolium).New England ( Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).Here is a list of the most common garden asters: Types:Īccording to the Chicago Botanic Garden, there are approximately 250 types, many of which are native to North America. Their width typically ranges from 1 to 3 feet. Most range from 1 to 4 feet in height, with some growing as tall as 5 or 6 feet and some staying as small as 6 inches. Bloom time:Īugust through October varies depending on species and cultivar. Flower color:Ĭolors are diverse, ranging from white and pastel blues and pinks, to hybrids of deep scarlet and purple. Zones:ģ-10 varies depending on species and cultivar. Big Leaf Aster (Aster macrophyllus) can be used as an understory for shrubs. Plant Big Leaf Aster with other more aggressive shade plants that spread such as Zig zag Goldenrod and Pennsylvania Sedge. Detailsīenefits: Butterflies, Pollinators, Deer Resistant Design Tips
BIGLEAF ASTER SEEDLINGS PATCH
Sometimes it produces very few flowers and is just a patch of leaves. The fast spreading nature of Big Leaf Aster makes it suitable for shady locations that need large areas of native groundcover, but maybe not a tidy garden. We plant all of our own projects with plugs.īig Leaf Aster spreads underground to stabilize and cover ground in shady areas. They are a great option for planting large gardens. What are plugs? Plugs are plants grown in 72-cell trays each soil plug is 1.6” wide x 3.2” deep. You can mix and match 12-packs of different species.

***12-pack MINIMUM ORDER***: If ordering 12-packs, you must order * at least six 12-packs*.
