Scientific Name
Aster alpinus L.
Common Name(s)
Alpine Aster, Blue Alpine Daisy, Rock Aster, Wild Aster
Synonym(s)
Aster alpinus subsp. alpinus, Aster alpinus var. alpinus, Aster breyninus, Aster chrysocomoides, Aster cylleneus, Aster fallax, Aster garibaldii, Aster hirsutus, Aster hispanicus, Aster korshinskyi, Aster nivalis, Aster pulchellus, Aster scabris, Aster wolfii
Scientific Classification
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Astereae
Genus: Aster
Origin
This species is native to Canada and the United States.
Flower
Color: pink, violet-lavender, dark purple-black, or white-near white
Bloom Time: Late spring or early summer
Description
Aster alpinus is a herbaceous perennial that forms a clump of narrow dark green leaves and daisy-like flower heads. It grows up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall. The flower color may be pink, violet-lavender, dark purple-black, or white-near white. The flower heads are up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and appear in late spring or early summer or, occasionally, midsummer.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 3a to 8b: from −40 °F (−40 °C) to 20 °F (−6.7 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Divide mature plants in spring, just as the new shoots begin to grow. This should be done every few years to avoid the crowding of plants.
As with many other flowering plants, deadhead (cut back spent flowers) makes room for newer blossoms. This will extend the health and flowering of your plants. Be sure to deadhead early on in the blooming season. Blooming will be reduced if done too late. This will also restrain unwanted reseeding, which will cause plant overcrowding.
Remember, Asters are prone to mildew, so be careful to plant them in areas with good circulation and good sun exposure.
As with other flowering plants, do not allow water to saturate leaves. Be sure to water at the plant's roots to prevent mildew and mold. Drip irrigation and utilization of a soaker hose work very well in watering these plants.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Aster.
Links
- Back to genus Aster
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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