Native Americans - Garden Plants - Aster

Name - The aster takes its name from the Latin word meaning star, which refers to the flower's star-like head. Known alternatively as the Michaelmas daisy, starwort and frost flower, this herbaceous perennial is such a widely spread plant that it has native species on all continents except Australia and, of course, Antarctica.

Description - Asters are available in almost every shade except clear yellow and orange, although the white, blue, purple and violet shades predominate – their golden centres surrounded by many richly coloured petals make them a valuable cut flower at a time of year when there are few other plants in bloom.

Origins – The American perennial asters flower in late summer and autumn, so for the maximum effect, try planting them at the back of a border with other late flowering plants such as Japanese anemones. Perennial asters are fast-growing perennials that benefit from being divided in spring every second year. Divide the clumps with a spade, discarding the old dormant sections from the centre and replant the vigorous growing outer portions. The taller growing varieties will need staking to prevent them from being damaged by strong winds.

For decoration - There are more than six hundred identified aster species, but only a few varieties enjoy popularity as cut flowers. With proper care however, almost all asters will enjoy a vase life of five to ten days, although they do need to be handled carefully as drying out will stress them and they will droop in a way that cannot be corrected. The flowers also dry well for use in Christmas wreaths etc, if hung upside down in a cool airy place.

Native American Aster photograph by L N, used under a creative commons attribution licence

 

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