There are approximately 250 type of asters growing around the world . In 1994 , Dr. Guy Nesom , a enquiry botanist , attempted to reclassify the genus into a act of pocket-size unit base on syllable structure ( frame and complex body part ) and chromosome . He concluded thatnone of the American so - call “ asters ” were nearly related to Eurasiatic aster . The genusAsteris now restricted to plants from Eurasia . This revision micturate it easier for us to name aboriginal asters . If the botanical latinname of a plant include the generaAster , it is not aboriginal to the U.S.

The mintage native to North America that were formerly classified as being in the genusAsterhave been disunite into disjoined genus . Eastern North American genus include : Symphyotrichum , Eurybia , Ionactis , Seriocarpus , Doellingeria , AmpelasterandOclemena . The majority of the former aster coinage belong to two genera , SymphyotrichumandEurybia . The common name for all the above genera is still aster , and will be the rough-cut terminus used in this article , which focuses onNorth American aboriginal asters .

ASTER CHARACTERISTICS

most all of the aboriginal aster species are perennials with substitute leaves and often , outstanding basal parting . Most specie have fibrous root systems ; some species have rhizomes ( underground storage stem ) , or runner ( above ground root word halt ) , and can be belligerent spreaders . Some also propagate by self - seeding . Plants range from less than 1 ’ to 7 ’ improbable . While most species favour full Lord’s Day and ironical - to - medium moisture , some metal money tolerate shadiness and wetter conditions . Habit tends to be leggy ; cutting stems back by half by early summertime will help promote bushiness , although flowering might be a piffling delay . Many asters are graze by deer and rabbits .

bloom heads are made up of 1)petal - same ray flowersthat can vary in color from blank to pink to blue to purple and 2)tubular record flowersthat are usually jaundiced . In some species , as many as 300 magnetic disk floret can be tightly jam into the orbitual efflorescence head . The phonograph record flowers are sodding ( bisexual with virile and distaff complex body part ) and are fertile . In some species , the ray flowers are pistillate ( female ) flowers that can be pollinated and grow fruits , while in other specie the ray flowers may be sterile .

LOCAL aboriginal ASTERS

As aboriginal works enthusiast , we can choose asters that are aboriginal to the U.S , or to the eastern part of the U.S. , or to the mid - Atlantic region , or we can hone our selections even further . Choosing plant that are local to our specific areameans that the plant should fly high in the soil , elevation , hydrology , and climate in which they ’ve evolved . ( Of course , the soil in many of our home base landscapes has been disturbed . )   Just as an illustration , I ’ve selected aster through the Virginia Department of Conservation and RecreationNative Plant Finder . Once you get to the link , type in aster under “ rough-cut name ” and then depend for the asters that are in the atomic number 15 ( Piedmont ) part .

Asters specific to the Piedmont region :

genus Chrysopsis mariana , Maryland golden aster , grows 1 - 2.5 ’ tall on portly , silky - woolly stems from a depressed rose window of basal leaves . It prefers partial or full sun , and humble - to - medium wet , although it tolerates some drought once established . It has an upright habit with stringy roots and short stolons . The plant is crowned from August to October with clustering of yellowish daisy - like flowers . Each bloom has bright scandalmongering rays surrounding a marrow disk of tiny yellow floweret .

Doellingeria umbellata , flat - topped white aster , grows to 7 ’ grandiloquent . It favor partial or full Lord’s Day , and medium - to - high wet . The upper leafage surface is average to dismal green , while the dispirited surface is pale dark-green or off-white gullible . Flowers have whitened rays and jaundiced magnetic disk center . matte - topped aster is the primary boniface plant life of the butterfly stroke , Harris ’ Checkerspot ( Chlosyne harrisii ) . American tree sparrows provender on the seed , while the trump grouse feed on both the leave and seeds ; cervid browse on the foliage as well .

Eurybia divaricata , white wood aster , grows to 3 ’ marvelous , prefers partial or full subtlety , and downhearted - to - sensitive wet . Distinctive leaves are fondness - shaped , stalked , and coarsely toothed . little but abundant flush have blanched rays ( infrequently pinkish or dark ) and yellow - to - ruddy center disks that are borne on coloured burgundy , stringy stems . The flowers appear in flat - topped , last clusters in belated summer to other fall . The flora has no serious insect or disease problems , although it is susceptible to powdery mildew . Aster wilt can also be an episodic trouble , particularly if plants are grown in ill - drained , clay soil . Good atmosphere circulation and some morning sun help subdue the incidence of foliar disease . Propagate by segmentation in spring .

Symphyotrichum concolor , eastern silvery aster , develop 2 - 3 ’ marvelous , and prefer full sunshine and modest moisture . The oval leaves are fluffy - white-hot or silvery , giving rise to   the plant life ’s common name . Both the small leaves and the violet - blue heyday cling tightly to the long slender stems , give a wand - corresponding visual aspect . The plant blooms from September to October . It is browsed by deer .

Symphyotrichum cordifolium , blue wood or substance - leave behind aster , grows 3 - 5 ’ tall and 2 - 3 ’ wide . It is easily grown in intermediate , dry - to - moist , well - drained soil infull sun to part tone . It also tolerates remains and drouth , but can be sensitive to badly - drain stain and pitiable tune circulation . Leaves are aggressively - toothed , with the low unity being heart - forge , hence the coarse name . blossom colour is blue - violet to lavender , with lily-livered centers that mature to purplish - red . There are no serious plague or disease ; it is sometimes browsed by cervid .

Symphyotrichum pilosum , frost aster or hairy aster , has haired stem that appear to be covered with thick hoar . leaf are also haired . The works is well grown in moist , well - drain soils in full sun to part shade ( more subtlety in southern climates ) , andcan tolerate periodical flooding . It grows 2 - 4 ’ tall and wide . Flowers blossom from August to October . Each flower features blank irradiation surrounded by a pallid yellow center field disk . record flowers turn reddish - purple with historic period . theme may be pinched back in late spring to early summer to elevate bushiness . Plants can propagate sharply by ego - seeding . This plant is take scraggy in some areas of the U.S.

aboriginal INSECTS

aster are pollinated by long - tongued bee , short - tongued bees , butterfly , and moth . aster provide nectar for many different butterflies and moths , and are of import late - season nectar sources for crowned head butterflies migrating from the north . According to the National Wildlife FederationNative Plant Finder(by zip code ) , asters in the zip computer code surface area 22901 are caterpillar master of ceremonies to106 speciesof butterfly and moth . Check the link for your zero code . As Doug Tallamy teaches , using aboriginal plants in our suburban gardens creates a simplified vestige of the richly various ecosystem that once be . Most insect herbivore can only eat plants with which they share an evolutionary history .

DISEASES

Foliar rust fungus and powdery mildeware limiting factors to growing aster successfully . Both diseases are debilitating to constitute health and deface to farewell and plant habits . Rust diseases produce reddish , orangish , or brown pustules on the undersides of farewell and along bow of the integral plant . rust fungus fungi seldom kill infected plants because the fungus kingdom need living plants to survive ; however , rust fungus infection lessen the cosmetic display by concentrate flower output and weakening the plants . Recommendations for reducing or eliminating foliar disease let in : choosing disease - insubordinate plants , improving air circulation by providing in force spatial arrangement between plants , thin out one - third of the stems , and minimise overhead irrigation .

GARDEN trial run ( rating STUDIES )

In 2003 - 2009 , Richard Hawke , Plant Evaluation Manager of the Chicago Botanic Garden , conducted a comparative tribulation on 119 different asters including species , cultivar , and hybrids of native and nonnative asters . While the distinctive evaluation period for perennials is four years , the average evaluation period for the asters in this tribulation was six years . Performance valuation are found on flower production , plant wellness , habit quality ( such as uprightness , compactness , “ legginess ” ) , and winter hardiness . Although this study is now about 10 years old , and the setting was not representative of Virginia growing conditions , the absolved achiever among fall bloomers were several American native species . Hawke ’s unspoiled overall performer wasaromatic aster(Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ) . This aster is native to parts of eastern and primal U.S. , admit Virginia . With sky - blue bloom on stiff 1 - 3′ stem , it blossom prolifically into October , or even into November . The cultivar ‘ Raydon ’s Favorite ’ was a top performing artist . Its billowy habit is well - suited to mass plantings and naturalizing .

Aromatic aster outperformed the intimate , often - commend species , NewEnglandaster ( Symphotrichum novae - angliae ) . TheNew England aster was more susceptible to powdery mildewthan was aromatic aster , and its habit was leggier . The popular nanus New England aster cultivar ‘ Purple Dome ’ often had brown - out leaf and bare scummy stalks . The groovy sexual morality of New England aster and its cultivar is the groovy range of colors , from purple through pinkish to white , while redolent aster blooms only sky blue .

Heath aster(Symphyotrichum ericoides)is a bushy , moderately succinct plant with many - branched stems , typically growing 1 - 3′ marvelous . In late September or former October , this dispirited plant life is cover in with a fluffy carpet of flower that can dissemble the ground or cascade over a bulwark . Hawke ’s favorite cultivar from the trial was‘Snow Flurry ’ , which grows only 4 - 6 ” tall but up to 4 ’ wide , with a blanket of small white peak . The cultivar is disease - detached andtolerant of dry conditions .

Though most aster need full sun , one standout species in the trial did particularly well indappled shade . whitened wood aster(Eurybia divaricata ) , an aster native to the Piedmont , is delineate above .

This article highlights just a few top performers from the trial run . Refer to thislinkfor a full description of the work details and the solvent write by the Chicago Botanic Garden in 2013 .

MT . CUBA RESEARCH CENTER TRIALS

Aster trials were held from 2003 - 2006 at the Mt. Cuba Research Center in Hockessin , Delaware , about 30 minutes from the University of Delaware .   In this work , 56 taxa of asters were considered . The results are similar to those at Chicago , with aromatic aster , S. oblongifolium‘October Skies ’ performing fourth dependable . The top performer was a smooth aster , S. laeve‘Bluebird ’ , followed by a prairie aster , S. turbinellum , and a calico aster , S. lateriflorum‘Lovely ’ . Two asters native to the Piedmont performed well : straight - topped white aster , Doellingera umbellata , and white wood aster , Eurybia divaricata‘Raiche ’ . For a study description and full list of outcome , see thislink .

AROMATIC ASTER

I am going to talk about aromatic aster ( Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ) in more detail because it is native to portion of Virginia , was the top - execute aster in the Chicago Botanic Garden trials , performed well in the Mount Cuba trials , and is relatively unpalatable to deer , whereas many other asters are frequently browse . Growing 1 - 3 ’ tall and wide , its rigid stems are much - branched from the stand . Its oblong , toothless , gentle - green leaves are fragrant when demolish . Both leaves and stem are sparsely covered with short hair . Aromatic purple to lavender - blue flowers with scandalmongering centers create daze purple hummock in the downfall . The blooms make good cut blossom , and are attractive to butterflies . The works is easy grown in average , dry - to - medium , well - drained grease in full Sunday , but it also does well in sandy or clay territory , and can withstand drought . It slowly colonizes by runner , and regular thinning can help see to it its ranch . The plant may open up if it get too top operose so it is a good idea to snip it back by no more than half by mid - June . Some support may be needed for taller plants since fore may run to splay aside in autumn from the weight of the bloom . After it go dormant , wait to slue back to the basal rose window in recent fall , early winter .

swampland ASTER

Although many asters like drier conditions , swamp aster or purple - stemmed aster(Symphyotrichum puniceum ) is a candidate forwet areas or for rain garden , which is the rationality it ’s being play up in this clause . aboriginal to the eastern U.S. , including Virginia , it is easily grown in average , moist - to - wet soil in full sunshine . The typical form has bristly , purplish stems and toothed , shining , spear - shaped leaf . Bloom time is August - November with many light - violet or violet - down in the mouth rays surrounding yellow centers . The blossom are attractive to butterflies . This aster is a stalwart plant growing 4 - 8′ tall . It resembles a gravid and sluttish - colored New England aster ( S. novae - angleae ) . It well self - seed .

directly SPECIES VS . CULTIVARS AS POLLINATOR PLANTS

In her studies on pollinator attraction at the University of Vermont , Dr. Annie Whitecompared the New England aster , S.novae - angliae‘Andenken an Alma Pötschke ’ with the metal money .

The New England asters that I studied showed one of the largest difference that I witness between the native and the cultivar ‘ Alma Potschke’—like 20 time more pollinators on the natives(straight species)than on the cultivars . That was one that really surprised me because the flowers are very like morphologically , the same size , and they were blooming at precisely the same time . They just had a colour difference.(The ‘ Alma Potschke ’ is a bright rose pink with yellow centre magnetic disc . )

In a standardized trial by Penn State , the straight species New England aster ( S. novae - angliae ) had three metre more pollinator visits than the New England aster cultivar ‘ Purple Dome . ’

SUMMARY

Many dissimilar coinage of native aster add color to the gloaming garden , and protract the accessibility of pollen and nectar late into the season . Although many asters choose teetotal - to - medium moisture term in full sunlight , there are option for dry , shady spot , or for blotto areas of the landscape painting as well . There are also deal of choice in summit , habit , and color . rusting and powdery mildew can mar an aster ’s beauty , so be certain to expect for asters that are more resistant to these disease . tot up this low - maintenance aboriginal plant to your garden , and descent will be even more beautiful . Your tardy season garden will also be bombinate and whirring with life !

rootage

Bringing Nature Home , Douglas W. Tallamy , 2009 .

“ Flower Power : Cultivars vs. Straight Species , ” Ann Lawson , The Humane Pollinator , https://www.humanegardener.com / flower - power - a - qa - with - annie - white/

Native Plant Finder , Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation , https://www.dcr.virginia.gov / natural - inheritance / native - plant life - spotter

Missouri Botanical Garden , Plant Finder , https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org / plantfinder / plantfindersearch.aspx

“ Native Asters Shine in the Garden , ” Chicago Botanic Garden , Beth Botts , https://www.chicagobotanic.org / plantinfo / smart_gardener / native_asters_shine_garden

“ A relative subject of Cultivated Asters , ”   Richard Hawke , Chicago Botanic Garden , Plant Evaluation NotesISSUE 36 , 2013 ,

www.chicagobotanic.org › planteval_notes › no36_asters

“ Asters for the Mid - Atlantic Region , ” Mount Cuba Research Center ,

mtcubacenter.org › wp - content › uploads › 2016/12

“ Overview of Chances to Asteraceae and Aster Species set up in Northern Virginia to Upper Shenandoah Park , ” Prince William Wildflower Society , https://vnps.org / princewilliamwildflowersociety / botanizing - with - marion / overview - of - modification - to - asteraceae - and - aster - specie - find - in - northern - virginia - to - upper - shenandoah - national - park/

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center , https://www.wildflower.org / plants / result.php?id_plant = SYPUP

“ Symphyotrichum cordifolium ( Blue Wood or Heart - leaved Aster ) , ” Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia , https://mgnv.org / plants / perennial / symphiotrichum - cordifolium - blue - wood - or - heart - leaved - aster/

Feature Photo : redolent aster ( Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ) , Dr. Thomas G. Barnes , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service , Public Domain