Deadleafing can also help keep plants
attractive. Some asters are attractive
over the winter and may provide food
for birds, but leaving the plants up can
also result in undesirable seeding. Be
certain to cut down any diseased
plants before winter and clean up
debris from the base of the plant.
other maintenance Asters prefer
rich, high-organic, well-draining soil.
Watering during periods of drought
can reduce leaf decline. Good air
circulation can help prevent foliar
diseases. If aster wilt should occur,
destroy the plants and the roots, as
this is where the pathogen resides.
Well-draining soil reduces the
incidence of aster wilt. Asters benefit
from being divided every year or two
in the spring to keep them vigorous
and to control their spread. Staking is
required if plants are not pruned.
Chicken wire held up by stakes is an
effective method for staking asters.
related plantS Symphyotrichum
novae-angliae ‘Andenken an Alma
Pötschke’ is an older pink variety that’s
one of the most readily available New
England asters, although in an
evaluation of asters by the Chicago
Botanic Garden, ‘Harrington’s Pink’
and ‘Honeysong Pink’ New England
asters both performed better than
‘Alma Pötschke’. ‘Purple Dome’ is a
good, compact, 18- to 24-in.-tall plant
that doesn’t require pruning for height
control. It is often listed as disease free,
but this has not been my experience.
‘Barr’s Pink’, 36–48 in., flowers summer
through fall and is moderately heat
tolerant.
Symphyotrichum dumosum, rice
button aster, is a garden-worthy
eastern United States native that has
gained popularity in recent years via
the dwarf (about 12–16 in.) selections
‘Wood’s Light Blue’, ‘Wood’s Pink’, and
‘Wood’s Purple’. ‘Wood’s Light Blue’ is
especially disease-resistant.
Symphyotrichum laeve, smooth aster,
is another pest-resistant native. It is
best known by the cultivar ‘Bluebird’,
which reaches 3–4 ft. tall and benefits
from a trim in June to control its
height and reduce its chances of
flopping.
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, calico
aster, is yet another excellent native
and was a 5-star performer in the
Chicago study. It is covered in small
white flowers in autumn. Calico aster
tops out at about 3 ft., and while a June
pinch isn’t usually required, doing so
will result in an even bushier, more
floriferous plant.
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum ‘Lady
in Black’, with deep, smoky purple to
bronze foliage is especially attractive.Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, New
York aster, is more popular in Europe
than here in its native country. It often
falls prey to rust. Select dwarf cultivars
of New York aster if pruning and/or
staking is not desired; even medium
forms often need staking. Some
notable dwarf forms include ‘Professor
Anton Kippenburg’, ‘Raspberry Swirl’,
and ‘Tiny Tot’.
Symphyotrichum oblongifolius var.
angustatus, aromatic aster, in the form
‘Raydon’s Favorite’ was another 5-star
winner in the Chicago evaluations and
is also my favorite aster. I cut it back by
half in mid-June, as with other asters,
and it flowers at about 2 ft., rather thanSymphyotrichum laeve ‘Bluebird’