The New England aster (Aster novae-angliae) is a bushy perennial that produces beautiful masses of daisylike blooms in the fall. Delicate ½- to 1-inch flowers feature pink or purple ray florets, either with contrasting yellow or complementing pink disc florets. Native to prairie regions of the United States and Canada, the species can grow 5 to 6 feet, but many cultivated varieties take a more compact, fuller form. The flowers are a popular attraction for butterflies and bees, since they're one of the few food sources that's likely to survive a moderate frost.

Plant Facts
Common name: New England aster
Botanical name: Aster novae-angliae
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Height: 5 feet
Zones: 4 to 8
Family: Asteraceae

Growing conditions

  • Sun: Full sun or part shade.
  • Soil: Well-cultivated, fertile, moist soil.
  • Moisture: Grows best with regular watering, but established plants with protection from afternoon sun tolerate some dryness.


Care

  • Mulch: Apply 1 to 2 inches of organic mulch around plants to preserve soil moisture and prevent weeds.
  • Fertilizer: Apply balanced organic or slow-release plant food in spring. Excessive nitrogen will promote leggy, floppy growth and fewer flowers.
  • Pruning: Cut back by half before July 1 to encourage greater flower production and bushier, more compact growth.


Diseases and pests

  • Aster yellows, verticillium wilt, powdery mildew, gray mold, leaf spot, and stem cankers may occur.
  • Insect pests include aphids, mites, slugs and snails, nematodes, and rosy blister galls.


Propagation

  • Propagate species from seed.
  • Divide cultivars in early spring or fall.


Cultivars

  • ‘Andenken an Alma Potschke', (often shortened to ‘Alma Potschke'), pictured here, has rose-pink flowers and is more compact than the species. Grows 4 feet tall. Zones 4 to 8.
  • ‘Barr's Pink' has semi-double, rose-pink flowers with reddish disc florets tipped in yellow. Grows 4½ feet tall. Zones 4 to 8.
  • ‘Purple Dome' is a dwarf cultivar that grows 18 inches tall. It has a mounding form with dense semi-double, purple flowers. Zones 4 to 8.

Garden Notes

  • The species and most cultivars require staking if not cut back
  • Divide plants every 2 to 3 years to maintain vigorous growth and prolific blooming.
  • Makes a great fall container plant. This aster is also an excellent, long-lasting cut flower.
  • The native species may be invasive in certain conditions, but most cultivated varieties are better behaved in the garden.


All in the family

  • Aster is derived from Greek, referring to the starlike appearance of the flowers, and is part of a genus comprised of approximately 250 annuals, biennials, perennials, and wood sub-shrubs. Most common and popular cultivated species include:
  • Frikart's aster (Aster x frikartii), an upright perennial with dark purple ray florets and yellow disk florets. Zones 5 to 8.
  • New York aster, or Michaelmas daisy (A. novi-belgii), a clump-forming perennial with purple, white, or pink rays and yellow or pink discs. Zones 4 to 8.
  • Italian aster (A. amellus), a clump-forming perennial with lilac-blue or lavender rays and yellow discs. Zones 5 to 8.
  • Though most sources refer to the genus as Aster, some sources indicate that most North American natives and popular garden asters (including A. novae-angliae) have been reclassified into the genus Symphiotrichus, a move referred to as the "aster disaster" by one plant taxonomist.

(Text by Robert Weaver, photo courtesy of Bailey Nurseries, www.baileynurseries.com)