Aster tataricus ‘Jindai’
‘Jindai’ Tatarian daisy
compoSitaeLavender-blue flower heads; large basal
leaves up to 18 in. long
Blooms September–November
3–4 ft. (2 ft.) high; 3 ft. wide
Full sun
Zones 4–8
pruning Aster tataricus ‘Jindai’ is a
self-supporting cultivar that normally
doesn’t require pruning for height
control. It is a desirable plant, because
the only pruning it requires is cutting
back for cleanup in the spring.
Sections can be pruned before
flowering to layer the planting, if
desired. Cutting plants back by half in
mid-July produces 3-ft. rather than
4-ft. plants, but without any delay in
bloom. Deadheading in the autumn is
senseless, as the old flowering stems
remain upright and strong throughout
the winter. I have never had any
seeding of this cultivar.
other maintenance ‘Jindai’ is an
easy-to-grow aster and one of the
coolest, latest-flowering perennials in
Midwest gardens. The clean foliage is
free of pests and disease. Spreading
underground stolons can be invasive;
divide in the spring every 3rd or 4th
year to control spread.related plantS The straight
species form of Aster tataricus may
flower at 6 ft. in height. Cutting it back
as described for the cultivar will also
produce shorter plants. Lifting the
stolons and pruning them off can
control spread.Asteromoea mongolica
(syn. Kalimeris mongolica)
double Japanese aster
aSteraceaeNumerous small white flowers; small
divided leaves
3–3 1/2 ft. high; 2 ft. wide
Full sun–part shade
Blooms July–September
Zones 5–8
pruning This perennial has a long
bloom period even without deadhead-
ing. Old flowers simply dry up
unobtrusively. Plants can be left up for
winter interest and then cut down in
early spring. They respond well to
cutting back before flowering to
reduce height, which can effectively
layer the planting. Cutting back can
also be used to slightly delay flowering
on a few plants or on a few stems of an
individual plant. Plants cut back by
half in mid-June, when about 3 ft. tall,
flowered at 2 1/2 ft. rather than 3 ft.;
they were also fuller than unpruned
plants and flowering was delayed by
about 1 week.
other maintenance Fairly
low-maintenance plant except for its
spreading root system, which can be
easily controlled. This usually is
necessary in the spring in about the
plant’s 4th year. Tolerant of a fair
amount of shade. Adaptable, pest free,
and normally no staking required.
related plantS Asteromoea incisa
(Kalimeris incisa) grows 2 ft. tall and
has single flowers with a shorter
bloom period than the above species.
Shear off old flowering stems to a low
mound of deep green foliage after
flowering is completed in midsummer
to clean up the plant and for a possible
light rebloom in the autumn.Aster tataricus ‘Jindai’