What is an Aster?
Asters are fall flowering perennials in the Asteraceae family, more commonly called the Daisy family. We all know what daisies look like, at least I hope we do. Not only are Asters in the Daisy family, and of course Daisies, but also Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susans and so many others. It’s a huge group of plants and in many ways, very important to our pollinators and flying friends.
How many varieties of Asters are there?
There are around 350 species of Asters and about 150 of them are native to the USA. Native plants are so important to our eco-system and all that live in it. Native plants are favorites of our native pollinators and birds. It’s what they live on. Think about it this way, if you go to a foreign country and don’t know the food, would you eat that food or McDonald’s that you know? Maybe fatty McD’s isn’t the best example, but it’s illustrative of how insects and birds think and live as well. Some of the more common Asters in the NJ/PA area are the common Aster that are typically in the grocery store or nursery, sometimes mistaken for mums as they are sold alongside with mums. (By the way, mums are beautiful, but unless they are the true perennial kind not the field grown ones used as decoration, mums are useless to pollinators as they make no pollen.) Other varieties are Woodland Asters, Woods Asters and my personal favorite, the New England Aster. In shades of purple, pink and white, these flowers are beautiful and stand out in your September garden.
Why are Asters important?
Asters are important for a couple of reasons. They are one of the last blooming perennials in your garden, starting their blooming season in late August going into October, depending on the species/variety. So, when your Coneflowers, Shasta Daisies and most other perennials have fizzled and are down to seed heads (which are very important for the birds,) Asters are ready to go and fill your yard with a striking display. This is the reason why mums are so popular…they add color to your yard when most other flowers are done. But the most important reason Asters are important is because they are one of the last food sources for the fleeting pollinators as the year comes to an end. The bees need food and the butterflies especially, need food, and Asters supply that food for the long journey home.
Are Asters hard to care for?
No, they are super easy! Asters need almost full sunshine to do their best. They don’t require much fertilizer at all and only need water maybe once a week if there’s no rain. Although I don’t practice this, if you prune them back in mid-summer, they won’t be as leggy, but that’s up to you. If you look at the pictures on here, you make the decision on how you like them. Also, Asters are known to seed here and there so you may have a surprise next year with them coming up in places they weren’t planted. Anyway you slice it, Asters are most certainly the Quintessential Fall Perennial!
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