An Astonishing Variety of (Mostly) Wild Asters
Now that I have the taxonomy issue out of my system (see last post), I can write about the asters in my garden. (As hillwards points out, “They may not be Asters any more, but they will always be asters …”). All the asters I grow except for one are Midwest USA natives and straight species. They represent a small slice of the hundreds of species and cultivars available.
I love asters because they flower freely, provide lots of fall color, and are extremely tough and easy to grow. They vary widely in the kind of environments to which they are adapted.
New England Aster (Sympohtrichum novae-angliae). This is a tall aster that likes moist soils and sun. Mine grow to 6′ and require staking even after I cut them back in late May. Next year I plan to cut them back at least twice and see where that gets me. The wild species is variable in color, and mine bloom in both a rich purple and pink. In my garden this plant gradually expands to form large clumps. New England Aster is a good flower for monarchs and other fall butterflies, and goldfinches eat the seeds.
A common dwarf variety of New England Aster is ‘Purple Dome‘, which I have growing in my back yard. In my garden it stays under 2’ tall. For me it blooms later than the species.
Short’s Aster (Symphotrichum shortii). This aster is less common in gardens, but I find it to have many virtues. Short’s Aster blooms profusely, covering itself with sky blue flowers in fall. It grows well in part shade or sun, and is generally adaptable. It can grow quite large and bushy (up to 4′), and I usually cut it back once in late May. It will self sow – if you hate pulling out seedlings you might want to cut it back before the seeds ripen.
Aromatic Aster (Symphotrichum oblongifolium). Aromatic aster is well adapted to drier, sunny spots. It also stays more compact than many wild asters and self-sows infrequently. The light blue flowers have golden centers. One of my favorites.
White Woodland Aster (Eurybia divariticus). I’ve read that this aster spreads aggressively, but that has not been my experience. In fact, I planted it years ago in a moist, shady spot and it gradually disappeared. I’ve got it growing now in dry shade, and we’ll see how it does. A low-growing aster with white flowers.
Calico Aster (Symphotrichum lateriflorum). Do not plant this aster in fertile soil and full sun. It will become a monster, more a shrub than a perennial, and self-sow aggressively. However, I have found it to be well-behaved in shade. Many tiny white flowers with maroon and yellow centers grow along horizontal stems. I like the way it looks, but I gave one to a friend of mine and she thought it was quite weedy. Especially loved by bees and other pollinators.
Crooked-Stem Aster (Symphotrichum prenanthoides). Crooked-Stem Aster likes moist soil and does well in shade. It creates an airy cloud of white to light-blue flowers.
Big Leaf Aster (Symphotrichum macrophyllum). This is another aster with a reputation for thuggish behavior. I have it in dry shade where there is plenty of competition from shrubs, and there it has spread slowly to form a nice groundcover with its large, heart-shaped leaves. Big Leaf Aster blooms earlier than most of the other asters in my garden.
These asters can be ordered on line from native plant nurseries. Also, most of the above species have cultivars which can be found in garden centers. If you feel your garden needs more fall color, it’s worth taking a look at these plants.
gardeninacity 
A lovely selection of asters – and thanks for the quote/link ;). I’m not surprised the aromatic aster is one of your favourites, it looks beautiful. We have a variety of your calico aster called Prince, which I love for its dark foliage and pretty flowers, though these are yet to open this year.
Calico aster may be one of those plants where the cultivars really are superior to the species.
I’m still unable to remember the new names…especially the one that starts with an ‘s’…how on earth can I spell that!?! Still, I love them all…you have SO MANY, reminds me that I need to find a spot for some more 🙂
I think it’s time to start think about annexing some of the neighbors’ property. If you just took about 18″ along the property line, would they really notice?
Good review of asters. I love the purple of the New England aster – I grew them in fairly dry soil in part shade and they bloomed well, but were floppy. You are right that the calico aster is weedy!
I thought about taking out some of my NE asters, but when I saw them start to bloom, I realized I couldn’t do it!
What a nice array of asters you have! I have bookmarked this post so I may refer back to it next spring when I am planning new additions. I used to have asters…one was a little dwarf one that I just loved(no idea of the variety). It came back year after year, but I think it eventually got crowded out. I also had a few others that unfortunately wondered and had to be pulled. Your notes on the different varieties will be very helpful in choosing replacements.
Thank you so much! I wonder if the dwarf was Purple Dome. Good luck with your planting next spring, let me know what you choose!
Asters (or whatever they’re called now) are such a cool foil for all of the warm colors of autumn! Love them and your collection is impressive!
Thanks! Yes, that’s why they go so well with goldenrods, but also things like Japanese Maples.
You certainly have quite a variety there! I don’t think I’ve appreciated Asters enough. But I’m learning from you all how nifty they are.
Yes, I think aster flowers make up with quantity what they lack in compexity.
We have this type of asters also. It’s easy to grow them than to grow Callistephus chinensis.
Not familiar with Callistephus, will look that up. Thanks for visiting my site! (Btw, I have been to Russia and Turkey but never Bulgaria.)
so amazing that you have these positively wild flowers growing in your garden. I have them in my field behind the house and I was taking pictures of them this week, admiring them. They really are worthy of being planted up near the house. Do they spread like crazy?
How they spread depends on plant and conditions they are in. Mostly they spread by seeds and it’s manageable. Aromatic Aster is least aggressive, Calico is most – I would put Calico only in rather difficult conditions, shade and lean soil.
The Ex-asters are some of my favorite fall blooming wildflowers. In Middle Tennessee Short’s Aster (Symphotrichum shortii) is everywhere! it makes a wonderful cloud of blue…Now I must remember to get Purple Dome and to cut my tall asters back twice! gail
PS. I forgot to say how much I enjoyed your post! It was a treat.
Thank you so much! Thanks for stopping by.
Each year at this time, when I read other gardener’s blogs, I’m struck down by aster-envy. But somehow, so far, I haven’t had much luck. Maybe next year…
You have a great pallette of plants at your disposal, so don’t feel bad about the asters.
Wow – I love all these! I just have Lessingia – no Corethrogyne now! filaginifolia, and aster – no Symphyotrichum chilensis in my garden. Yours are just wonderful – for people and critters all, it seems. Good to know!
Thank you! I’m not familiar with the species you mention. I wonder if the asters I grow would do well in your neck of the woods.
Wow! A variety of Asters I never knew!
And many more, these are just North American species.
The blue stem asters look so lovely with the goldenrod.
Yes, I really love asters and goldenrod in fall, they’re such a classic combo.
A wonderful preview to the weeks to come. I discovered your blog via Pat Hill. Glad I did!
Welcome! I’m glad you find it interesting.
How wonderful to see my name in someone else’s blog.
Of all asters, which attracts the most honey bees?
I don’t have a scientific answer for you, but I’d say Calico Aster attracts the most bees in general, but all asters are good pollinator plants. Calico Aster (Symphoricarpos lateriflorus) does have at least one fairly popular cultivar, but I forget the name.
Like PlantPostings, I don’t think I’ve appreciated asters enough until this year. In my last garden, they sort of took over and I avoided them afterward. It took a trip through Montana and Idaho to make me wake up to their charms again. With your guidance and information, I may be willing to wade into the deep end again.
It is so nice to have a mini guide to asters with pictures. I always get confused with some of our fall asters. Thanks.
I love the maroon and white tiny flowers of little my Calico aster, but it is still fairly new, and hasn’t had time to give me any trouble yet. Every year when I see asters in other gardens, I know I need more, so yesterday I bought a couple of low growing (supposedly) purple ones from the grocery store. They were labeled perennial, but we’ll see. Anxious to see what they will do.
I wonder if those might be ‘Purple Dome’, a dwarf NE Aster.
That sounds right, Jason. I think that is what it is .
Aromatic Aster has always been my favorite, but now (after 15 years) it grows taller than I would like–3 ft. even after cutting back in May and June.
What a joy your post on asters is! I’ve spent the past few weeks out in the field, trying to determine which species is which. When I discovered that at least some of them hybridize freely, I abandoned the field, so to speak. But, it took me into beautiful settings and I found a nice specimen of Rice Button Aster. To me, they will always be asters 🙂
So glad you enjoyed the post! Rice Button Aster – I have never even heard of that one. Sounds intriguing.
I thought of you yesterday. I was out in the field with a friend of mine and we came across a very attractive aster that neither of us was familiar with. I think, based on your post, it may have been aromatic aster. It seems there is an aster for every micro -habitat.