Scientific Name
Aster amellus L.
Common Name(s)
Italian Aster, Italian Starwort, European Michaelmas Daisy
Synonym(s)
Amellus officinalis, Amellus vulgaris, Aster acmellus, Aster albus, Aster albus var. albus, Aster amelloides, Aster amellus var. amellus, Aster amellus subsp. amellus, Aster atticus, Aster collinus, Aster elegans, Aster noeanus, Aster ottomanum, Aster pseudamellus, Aster pseudoamellus, Aster purpureus, Aster scepusiensis, Aster tinctorius, Aster trinervius, Diplopappus asperrimus, Diplopappus laxus, Galatella asperrima
Scientific Classification
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Astereae
Genus: Aster
Flower
Color: Lilac
Bloom Time: July through October
Description
Aster amellus is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows up to 20 inches (50 cm) tall. The stem is erect and branched with dark green leaves. The basal leaves are obovate and petiolated. The cauline ones are alternate and sessile, increasingly narrower, and lanceolate.
The flowers are lilac and appear from July through October. Seeds are achene that ripens in October.
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) to make room for newer blossoms 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 the utilization of a soaker hose work very well in watering these plants.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Aster.
Origin
Aster amellus is native to Europe.
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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