September Perennial of the Month-New England aster

Perennial of the Month New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

What would we do without the asters every fall? While the rest of the garden prays for an early frost to put it out of its misery, asters come along and remind us of why we garden. 

There’s an aster for every garden. You want tall and wild? Try the strait species (What Mother Nature grows in the wild.) or the cultivar ‘Barr’s Blue’. (Cultivated by man, not found in the wild.) Need short and tidy? Try my favorite ‘Purple Dome’, which even tolerates part-shade in my garden. 

Why I love this plant-it’s a native. It’s purple! Well, some are. New England asters come in shades of purple, pink, or white and complement the warm tones of fall. All asters are excellent late-season pollinators for bees and butterflies.

What’s not so great? Depending on the species or cultivar, they can grow up to 6’ and require staking. Pinching or cutting back early in the season will not only delay flowering but also help avoid the dreaded ‘Summer-flop’. Cutting back only portions of a clump can increase the short bloom time. Prolific reseeding can be a problem with some, but quick dead-heading action can help. Powdery mildew and aster wilt are also issues, but the biggest problem I’ve noticed is how appealing asters are to deer and rabbits. Physical barriers may be needed. 

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com, All rights reserved.