Asters, Pictures, Growing Guides, Tips & Advice

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aster flower Asters meaning "star" in Latin are sometimes commonly called "colored daises" - but they are actually part of the same family as sunflowers as seen in their deep yellow centers - with brightly colored petals in white, lavender, purple, pink or red.

Perennial asters prefer well-drained soil with full or partial sun.

With seeds slow to germinate, asters can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date, or thereafter planted directly into the soil. As they establish themselves they form in to bushy clumps which after a few years should be divided and transplanted.

Perennial asters and mums both benefit from pinching back to extend the growing season, resulting in a bushier plant and a profusion of flowers. Begin pinching back in mid-June, but curtail any pruning after early July, or it will have the opposite effect - leaving the plant without any blossoms in the fall.

The "star" of the autumn garden, perennial asters are a mainstay in any flower garden and provide colorful blooms at the end of the summer just when most other flowers are fading...

On the Web - How to plant & grow asters :

BBC Gardening - Aster - Picture, brief history, recommended varieties, how to's on sowing and planting, watering and required sunlight, common diseases.

Asters - Farm & Garden - General overview, growth habits and U.S. hardiness zones, tips on propagating, transplanting, required sunlight, common pests, diseases and remedies plus related links & resources.

Fall Aster, Autumn Aster - Description, suggested planting sites, watering & planting instructions, and tips on pruning and root division.

Best Perennial Asters - Authors pick of favorites including descriptions and tips on growing and propagating.

Bushy Aster - Picture, description and how to's, soil and sun requirements, related links.

Aster Diseases - Descriptions, signs & symptoms plus tips on remedies and prevention of the most common aster diseases including leaf spots, root & stem rot, wilt & powdery mildew.

Aster - Plant Pest Handbook - Descriptions and remedies for common diseases with similar information on common aster pests, including aphids, aster leafhoppers, blister beetles, stalk borer and more.