Perennial bush asters for a spectacular garden decoration. Perennial asters: spherical, heather, undersized, border asters Italian perennial

The genus of alpine asters has about 250 species of annual, biennial, perennial herbaceous plants and shrubs. Widely distributed in various natural areas Northern Hemisphere, especially North America. Feels great in the Alps, Sayan Mountains, Altai, Caucasus. Plants are suitable for cultivation on alpine coaster and for the curbs.

Asters are divided into spring-, summer-, autumn-flowering by flowering time. Inflorescences are solitary, very attractive, 4-5 cm in diameter, on thin peduncles; widely used for cutting. Some shrub species grow exclusively in South Africa... The name reflects the similarity to the star - numerous rays-petals diverge from the bright yellow center. Outwardly, it resembles a garden chamomile or daisy, hence the second name - alpine chamomile.

The unpretentiousness and modest, long-term decorativeness of the alpine aster favorably distinguishes its perennial counterparts from the annual ones. Having planted one plant, they admire it for more than one year with minimal care and attention.

Botanical description

Alpine aster, Korzhinsky aster, false aster - a close relative or annual, one of the perennial representatives of the huge family of asters, has earned the love of many flower growers for several centuries. This is a medium-sized plant up to 35 cm high. In good light, the bush, expanding, takes on a volumetric shape.

From the thickened rhizome erect, pubescent, highly branched branches. The root is horizontal and branched. The basal leaves are obovate, located on the stems - lanceolate, shallower towards the top, occasionally pubescent without petioles. Plants turn green before winter. The wrapper is hemispherical, consisting of a pair of rows of lanceolate-elongated leaflets. Inflorescence - apical basket up to 6 cm with many reed flowers of various color palette - from whitish to dark ultramarine. Seeds are obovate with a tuft. Blooms from late May to July. They do not lose their attractiveness until the very snow.

The plant has been cultivated since the 16th century, it is actively used in decorating plots by many gardeners and summer residents. In landscape design, it is used for mixborders, curbs, alpine slides and foreground group plantings. It is cultivated in the most northern regions, enduring long winters without consequences.

Growing alpine asters

If your flower garden is not shaded, well lit by the sun, the beautiful Alpine aster will not require special care. She needs well-drained, non-acidic soil, but otherwise they are unpretentious and hardy. During mass flowering, they need abundant watering. Tall species and varieties need moderate feeding. As soon as the cold comes (mid-October and later), cut the stem to the root collar. This operation can be transferred to the spring, combining with the removal of frozen shoots.

If you notice the rhizomes of the alpine aster protruding from the soil, then the plant should be transplanted as soon as possible with a deepening or thoroughly covered with earth, covering the exposed areas. Some varieties degenerate quickly and should be divided periodically. For transplantation, use the healthiest parts of the rhizome with large shoots and a well-developed root system. At the beginning of the growing season, they are fed with potassium fertilizer with the addition of calcium, which is used as chalk or finely crushed eggshell.

During the summer, ash is poured under the plants, followed by loosening. Doesn't like fresh manure. It stops blooming with an overabundance of unripe organic matter. They hibernate well without shelter, cover only young and recently transplanted specimens with spruce branches, dry moss.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

Propagated mainly by dividing the bush... The best time frame for this operation is May - September. The strips are grown at a distance of about 15 cm from each other. When they develop, they can be planted in open ground. Propagated also by seeds, which quickly lose their germination, are sown in a nursery from April to July or before winter, provoking natural stratification.

Growing alpine asters from seeds

IN middle lane Alpine aster can be freely sown simply in the ground, at the beginning of April, by covering the bed with a film. The grown seedlings can be transplanted in a month to permanent place, and by the end of summer, small flowering bushes have already formed. Next year they will be fully developed and will delight with abundant flowering.

At home, seeds are sown in March-April, in bowls, containers filled with a light substrate. It is possible to grow without diving, if you place the seeds at a considerable distance from each other and gradually gently add the soil.

How to grow alpine aster from seed for seedlings at home:

You can sow at the end of February until the very end of April. Sometimes those who did not have time to plant seeds in the middle of summer.
The seeds are buried into the substrate by a centimeter and a half, no more.
Better if you plant a couple of seeds in separate cups. If you are planting in large containers or boxes, make the rows no closer than 8 cm, leave a distance of 5 cm in the row.
Drainage is required, so make sure the container has holes for water to drain.
It is better to water sparingly so as not to clog the soil and it does not become too hard.
Great for home planting conditions fit usual ready-made substrate for flowers. If it is not at hand, take care of the rotted organic matter by adding a good half of it to the garden soil and stir.
Choose southerly windows where there is enough light and plants will not stretch out.

They can be transferred to open ground in summer or early autumn. They bloom in 3 years. Varietal characteristics are not always preserved when seed reproduction, this must be taken into account when breeding especially rare specimens.

Alpine aster can be propagated by cuttings

Such reproduction completely duplicates the parent instance. Cuttings are taken from healthy plants. The lower internode is cleaned of leaves, treated with a root or other stimulant, and the top is pinched. You can use succinic acid as a root stimulant by lightly dusting the slices with it.

Rooting takes place within two weeks. To accelerate the formation of roots, cuttings in the nursery are covered with foil or glass. Air every day for 5-10 minutes, raising the shelter. Water as it dries, avoiding waterlogging. In early autumn, they are transplanted to a permanent place at a distance of 15-20 cm.

Diseases and pests of the alpine aster

The roots are often affected by black mold, which leads to decay of the root system, the death of the plant. Powdery mildew, called white Asteraceae disease, may appear on the leaves. This happens as a result of the wrong choice of the location of the plant. They are treated from this scourge with available means.

Of the insects, the most dangerous is aphid, which slows down growth, damaging young stems, sucking juice out of them; from the affected shoots, deformed inflorescences develop, which do not bloom in the future. The danger is posed by snails gnawing on young shoots. Snails are disposed of with ash. All this can be avoided by placing the bushes in open, well-lit, ventilated places.

Tar water is used against insects (2-3 tablespoons of birch tar per 10 liters of water), pouring it on plants and watering cans. Good results are obtained by processing with conventional laundry soap... You can dissolve soap in tar water, which will increase the effect of the treatment. Dividing the bush involves rejuvenation, this must be done every 3-5 years. It is better not to be zealous with feeding and fertilizing - in natural conditions the growth of alpine asters, the soil is usually poor. When overfeeding, the plant may not bloom or become sick.

Popular varieties of alpine asters

Albus (Albys) - one of the first to bloom, in early June, short stems are covered with small dark green leaves. The flowers are white with a yellow core, semi-double and simple, scattered throughout the spherical bush. Height 12-22 cm. Looks perfect in rockeries, on alpine slides.

Gloria - blue simple flowers do not exceed 3 cm in diameter. falls at the end of May, June. The bush with emerald lanceolate leaves is decorative until late autumn. Up to 35 cm high. Suitable for low borders, flower beds, rockeries. Unpretentious, stable, responsive to care.

Goliath - semi-double light purple flowers on grassy low bushes of gray-green color. When used as a ground cover plant, it grows rapidly and takes up the space provided. Timely removal of twigs that have lost their decorative effect contributes to long-term flowering.

Rosea - baskets with a diameter of 6 cm are collected from buds with pink petals, a yellow-greenish center. Height is about 15 - 20 cm. It blooms in July. Form balls woven bright flowers... The herbaceous part is bright green. Suitable for compositions near stones.

Happy end (Happy End) - a variety with erect strong stems, the earliest flowering. Rose petals adorn the rosette. A little taller than their fellows. Blooming profuse and long from May to July. Valuable curb plant with dense, compact, spherical shrubs with abundant pink flowers at the time of flowering. When planted along the paths, it looks spectacular and picturesque. Faded shoots should be removed in a timely manner, thereby prolonging flowering.

Dunkle Chenet is a low, lush aster with deep purple flower petals and a bright yellow center, no more than 3 cm in diameter and 25 cm high. Looks great against the background of faded bushes of peonies and other early-blooming perennials, creating a bright spot against the background of green foliage.

Ruber - amazingly beautiful bloom fascinates the eye. The rich color of the red-pink flowers will decorate any place in your garden. Height up to 30 cm is suitable for single plantings in curtains, also for curbs, flower beds, rocky hills. By dropping it along the paths, create a magnificent ensemble with a lawn.

Superbus - unpretentious, with lilac-blue flowers on delicate bushes. Decorate any place in your garden. Feels good with light shading, decorating the walls of sheds and other outbuildings.

Dark Beauty and Helen Beauty - picturesque curtains of 15 centimeter stems with bright purple flower petals are used as a ground cover plant in places of memory, creating a long-flowering meadow. Set between stones, they look great.

Combining landings from different varieties, colors are achieved continuous flowering from early spring to late autumn. This is achieved by complementing the alpine varieties with other types of perennial asters - octobrines, september, Italian, Belgian, New England and New Zealand varieties.

Only from these flowers alone, alternating varieties and plant heights, you can create an English mixborder - required element European design that will remain decorative throughout the year and will delight its creator and his household with splendor, lush flowering. A mixborder located along a fence, fence or against the background of a building will hide flaws, decorate the territory of a site or garden and add completeness to the landscape composition. Requires a minimum of maintenance effort and cost. Such plantings look organic, they are constantly in bloom, thereby comparing favorably with ordinary flower beds and flower beds.

Healing properties

Are used medicinal properties alpine chamomile. Traditional medicine uses flowering tops. They are successfully used in case of gastrointestinal disorders, treatment of scrofula, tuberculosis. Harvested during the flowering period: cut off, laid out in one layer, dried under awnings, avoiding sunlight. Decoctions, lotions treat children and adults. The juice is used for various dermatoses.

This unassuming plant has attracted people's attention since ancient times with its modest splendor. Ancient structures are decorated with ornaments, repeating the curves of twigs and sepals. They were found during excavations in ancient tombs and burials. Mentioned in legends and myths about love and fidelity associated with the goddess of love Aphrodite, who personifies divine beauty and unfading youth.

It was believed that these cute ‘stars’ ’appeared in the place of the goddess’s footprints. They were planted in ancient times at the entrances to temples and houses in order to earn the favor of heavenly bodies and gods. People gave them to each other when parting, believing that they help lovers find happiness and meet again.

Many amateur flower growers are chasing impregnable, capricious exotic, not noticing simple, not making great demands and content with little attention to representatives of the flora, which is our modest woman, who, with unobtrusive care, is self-sufficient, respectable in those places where your other chosen ones will wither and die ...

Often driving past abandoned areas, you can spot a flowering bush of alpine asters under thickets of raspberries or currants. What care can we talk about in this case, but the plant is alive, growing, blooming. It is worth adding to it a little attention and care, and it will thank the tender long flowering... Not many have such properties and an exceptional thirst for life.

The plant is perfect for those summer residents who prefer to just relax in the country or personal plotwithout bothering to take care of the plants. Alpine chamomile will always thank everyone with its cheerful stars. Of course, in this case, you need to pay attention to more unpretentious varieties.

Alpine aster is another magnificent creation of Mother Nature, pleasing us with its flowering, discreet beauty, captivating with its unpretentiousness, endurance, and charm. Growing it will not be difficult even for novice florists.

Garden aster is the most recognizable and popular in Russia and neighboring countries. For its simplicity, easy care and growing in open ground no problem.

Asters are beautiful Compositae flowers, of which there are about 600 varieties. Its bloom perennial varieties they start quite late, so they are often called winter asters or octobrines. It depends on which species you decide to opt for, whether there will be an aster in the form of a bush or a single flower. Plant height can be up to 2 meters. Asters begin to delight the eyes of others with their bright colors in early autumn. You can find inflorescences of a variety of shades, they will change from white, and reach purple.

Aster deserves universal admiration and delight. By by and large for a variety of different sizes (from miniature and border, to large and tall) and colors of various flower shapes.

Varieties of asters: perennial and annual

In the endless list of species of this flower, you can find both perennial and annual plants.

Annual chinese aster

Annuals or Callistephus Chinese, as these varieties are called in the scientific literature, include:

Tubular varieties, the inflorescences of which are in the form of thin tubes.
Transitional can be both reed and tubular.
The ligulate petals are not narrow, but rather wide in the form of a tongue.

Tubular have feathery petals and twisted into a tube

Lilliputian
Aster flax

Transitional there are those that are understandable even from the name, they have tubes and tongues, are subdivided into simple, semi-double, coronal:

Simple asters, have a middle of yellowish tubular petals surrounded by several chains of straight reed forms.

Chamomile, Peony aster, Ostrich feather and Margarita - for cutting;
Chrysanthemum aster Apollo, Victoria, Duchez, Waldersee - casing.

Semi-double varieties, due to the reed petals sticking up and to the sides, have a volumetric shape and a well-defined middle.

Madeleine, Anemonoid - for cutting;
Mignon, Victoria Baum, Anmut, Rosette - casing.

Coronal these are species with rather lush and fluffy flowers, the middle of which is practically invisible.

Pink Princess, Aurora, Princess Elena - for cutting into bouquets;
Ambria, Venice, Venus Pomponnaya, Pion-shaped Silver Tower and Annushka - casing;

You will not be able to see the reed core with small yellowish pipes, since the flower of these asters has a magnificent spherical shape.

Reed species that consist of wide, multiple petals, in turn, are also subdivided into several collected varietal groups:

Curly - have wide ligulate inflorescences that curl slightly at the ends; Comet, Hohenzollern, Early Miracle, Market Queen, Versailles
Radial or radiant with sharp tongues, which twist along the length, without growing together; Delight, Star, Radio
Needle varieties - needle petals, thin and twisted. Valkyrie, Unicum, Riviera
Tranded: Victoria, Lilliputian, Royal Dwarf
Globular varieties: Dragon, Princess, Milady
Hemispheric: American Beauty, Schenheit, Triumph, Pink Aster

Dwarf Tibetan aster blooms with numerous blue flowers, and miniature Andersen grows quite tiny (no more than 8-10 cm) and blooms with delicate purple flowers.

Perennial bush aster

Perennial flowers differ from their predecessors in that they have rather tall bushes.

Tall varieties should be grown to decorate flower beds or to create a hedge. If the perennial is undersized, then it is suitable for borders or small flower beds.

Depending on the appearance and the flowering period, perennial asters are divided into several categories. At the beginning of summer, Alpine aster begins to delight with its flowering, and at the end of the hot season, you can enjoy the unforgettable flowers of Italian varieties.

With the onset of autumn, the previous varieties are replaced by spray asters, dissolving flowers of the most unpredictable and beautiful shades.

Types of perennial plants:

Alpine aster photo.

The height of this low-growing species does not exceed 30 cm. It first appeared in the Alps. The flowers of the plant are located on one shoot and around their circumference can vary from 4 cm to 6 cm, outwardly similar to chamomile. Double center of flowers yellow color and is endowed with tubular petals. There are pink, purple and white shades of flowers. It blooms in early June and pleases others with its lush flowering throughout the month. Alpine aster flower perennial planting and care, which is not at all difficult, will delight you with its flowering for a long time.

It can serve as an excellent decoration for alpine slides or in flower bed compositions next to stunted plants.

Common varieties:

Wargrave is a dwarf subspecies, barely reaching 25cm. Is an may flower, with pink chamomile petals and an amber heart.
Glory. Even smaller than Vargrave. With a bright orange center and sky-blue long petals (about 4 cm).
Helen Beauty Perennial alpine subspecies of dwarf growth 10-15cm. Small flowers of deep purple hues. It turns out an interesting combination with the flowers of Iberis and Chinese carnation.
Albus - consists of multiple pristine white inflorescences.
Dark Beauty dark purple curb aster blooms in the last days July and continues to bloom until mid-August.
Galiaf is a real alpine aster, often used for its intended purpose - on an alpine slide, and is also planted along the paths for rockeries. Long-lasting flowering with unusual lavender flowers.

Shrub or bush.

Withdrawn given view in North America. All varieties that you find in it have 20-60 cm shoots that are completely covered with foliage.

Shrub aster is the first species to bloom in the fall.

The most popular bush varieties include:

Blue Bird is a stunted specimen (up to 20 cm) with sky-blue petals in the form of elongated tongues.
Alba flora foam is a medium-sized species. It differs in a different structure of the petals, some are lemon-yellow tubular, and others in the form of snow-white tongues.

New England aster.

The height of these varieties grows up to 2 meters. Lush blooms can be either red, white, pinkish-peach, or sky blue and deep purple.

With the onset of autumn, asters will delight you with their rich inflorescences, the diameter of which is about 4 cm. These flowers can be used to create unforgettable bouquet arrangements that can live in water for several weeks.

Pearl House violet - lavender flowers
Apollo white chinese aster
Andenken & Alma Pottschke bright pink petals, coupled with a yellow spot in the middle, excellent pink asters

New Belgian aster.

These plants can vary in height from 35 cm and reach 1.5 meters.

It is characterized by small flowers, which can be pale purple, lilac, pink, burgundy or white.

There is a dwarf (miniature), medium-sized and tall aster New Belgian.

Marie ballard blue aster
Royal Ruby deep red
Patricia Ballard dark pink aster
Royal ruby \u200b\u200bred-ruby color
Winston Churchill burgundy - red
White Lediz snow-white flowers

Italian aster.

It is a bush no more than 70 cm in size. You can find pink, lilac, yellow or dark blue flowers, collected in basket inflorescences. In August, it begins to delight its owners with lush and abundant flowering.

Italian Rudolph Goethe terry lilac - pinkish inflorescences
Amalia or chamomile or European

How to plant and care correctly

Perennial asters prefer neutral soil. In the event that you know or think that it is not enough nutrients, then before planting plants, such land must be fertilized, mainly using for this:

Compost or humus (2-4kg)
Sulfuric ammonium and potassium salt (about 15-20 g each)
Superphosphate from 20 to 30 g.

In no case do not plant plants in places where the soil is moist, as this often leads to the appearance on the bush powdery mildew, and in the future his possible death.

These applied fertilizers are calculated for one square meter areas where flowers will be planted. Do not overdo it with additives, it will not lead to anything good.

The place where you plan to plant asters must be thoroughly dug, leveled and loosened. The distance between the planting samples should be about 20 cm. The dug holes should be of medium depth. After placing the seedlings in the hole, sprinkle them with earth and be sure to water them. They won't need watering for the next few days. After a few weeks, feed the asters with nitrogen fertilizers.

How to plant a perennial aster in the fall video:

How to care for outdoor garden asters

If you dream of growing asters, then this will certainly not be difficult for you.

First, look for seedlings open areawhich is well lit by the sun. Also, this place should pass moisture well so that there is no stagnation of water.

It should be borne in mind that the plant prefers to grow in places where strong cold winds will not disturb it.

Having prepared the right soil where your flower will grow, be sure that in the future it will be easy to care for it, even if you are a completely novice florist.

If you plan to grow an annual plant in your garden, then all you need to do is remove weeds, loosen the ground and water it in a timely manner.

Advice!
When planting, try not to plant sprouts close to each other, as excessive planting density can lead to fungal infections.

With proper care, you must remove dried leaves and inflorescences from the plant in time. This should be done not in the evening, but in the morning or before lunch, so that the plant tissues have time to tighten. This procedure will help the emergence of new buds, and also will not use up excess supply of nutrients.

Watering and feeding

Aster bushes are watered only at the moment when the soil around them is dry enough, since excess moisture is too harmful for the plant. If you decide to plant a flower in an area where groundwater or heavy soil pass, then be prepared for the fact that stagnant water will lead to rotting of the root system. It is imperative to loosen the soil, as this helps the plant to be saturated with oxygen. Removing all weeds is also necessary to reduce the risk of aster disease.

In case if summer period too hot, then mulch the soil so that the moisture in it lingers a little longer. Dry leaves, sawdust or pine needles are suitable for this procedure.

Do not forget to feed the asters, which will allow them to produce beautiful and lush inflorescences. For this, mineralized fertilizers can be used, which are: superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium sulfate. No less useful will be wood ash... Avoid nitrogen fertilizers, because thanks to them, the plant will actively grow foliage, while practically not releasing buds.

As a rule, fertilizers are applied both dry and after mixing them with water. For the first time, it is necessary to feed asters a few weeks after planting. As soon as buds begin to appear on the plant, this is an indicator that it is necessary to fertilize the plant a second time. The third time it is necessary to use feeding is at a time when the buds have just blossomed.

How to propagate correctly

Gardeners who decide to plant asters in their garden will certainly want to plant this wonderful flower. This procedure is carried out both with the help of seeds and by dividing the bush.

It is necessary to sow seeds of annual varieties in the spring in the ground. But remember, you can store seeds for no more than three years after you have collected them. Seeds of perennial asters should be sown immediately after harvest.

Seedling propagation

Seedlings allow you to get gorgeous blooming asters by July. If you want seedlings to appear in the second half of May, then the seeds must be sown in last weeks March, but not later than the beginning of April. In order for them to climb for sure, you need to follow the following rules:

Planting seedlings in open ground

It is necessary to plant young growth in the garden in the second half of May, if the height of the seedlings is about 10-12 cm. The procedure is carried out in the evening, in a moist and mulched soil with sawdust or grass. For asters to take root better, temper the seedlings within a week.

The distance between tall pets should not be less than 30 cm. For short asters, 20 cm will be enough. Observing the optimal distance between the bushes will allow you to form a chic carpet of flowering asters.

Areas where you plan to plant asters should be well lit, and also have light dry soil, which will allow moisture to quickly leave. If you decide to plant flowers where potatoes or tomatoes were previously grown, then it is better to refrain from this. The fact is that after these plants, pathogens of certain diseases that are dangerous to flowers may remain in the ground. When planting the plant, leave a point of growth above the ground, and also do not bend the roots.

Seedless method from seeds

If you decide to stay on this option, then it is worth considering that asters need to be sown in two terms in early spring or with the onset of autumn. Using the first method, sowing should be carried out when the soil warms up enough and the threat of frost is over. As a rule, this procedure takes place at the end of April or the beginning of May. If you decide to plant asters in the fall, then they will begin to bloom a little later, but the bloom will last longer and will be much smarter than with the first option.

Division dilution

No less popular is the division of the bush, which is usually done in the spring. Such flowers will delight gardeners with their flowering in the fall. It will not be difficult to divide the aster, and the plant itself is easy to relate to such a procedure.

Vegetative propagation is carried out only if the growing part to be separated has 4 new stems, 1 bud and several roots.

How to protect perennial asters in winter

Exist as frost-resistant species asters, never. In order to cover the plant before the onset of the upcoming cold weather, it is necessary to use spruce branches, peat or dry foliage. Before starting the procedure, you need to remove all dry shoots. As soon as winter has passed the shelter, you need to remove, loosen the soil and water.

Perennial plants can grow in one area for about five years. Five-year-old bushes need to be dug up, root system divide and plant. This procedure allows plants to avoid infection with various diseases.

Who can attack octobrins: diseases and pests

Most often, asters are infected with fungal diseases, which are:

Fusarium.

A plant that has been affected by this disease begins to turn yellow, become weaker, and subsequently withers. Unfortunately, it is impossible to deal with this ailment. The only thing you can do is keep other plants from getting infected. To do this, dig up the affected aster and burn it. A five-year crop rotation will help protect the plant from illness.

At an early stage, you can see the disease only by paying attention to the back of the sheet. At a later date, swelling, wilting and drying of the leaves are observed. To avoid such an ailment or to cure a plant that is already infected, you will need a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid.

Blackleg.

This disease mainly affects only seedlings, but there are cases when adult plants are also attacked. The reasons can be both excess moisture in the soil and overestimated soil acidity. Plants that are infected, starting from the ground, turn black and rot. Those asters that have become infected must be removed and burned. The soil where they stayed healthy plants, poured with a solution of fungicide and sprinkled with sand.

Carriers are cicadas and aphids. After infection, the foliage begins to turn yellow, and then chlorosis begins on it. To get rid of the disease, you need insecticides that are used to treat healthy plants. All infected flowers are removed.

Verticillosis, gray rot, powdery mildew.

Diseases that need to be treated with the foundation.

To protect your flowers from these pests, you must follow these steps:

IN autumn time be sure to dig up the ground.
Do not forget to add lime, compost and humus to the soil.
When planting plants, keep the distance between them.
Dying perennials or faded annuals must be removed from the flower bed and burned.
If you find any pests or diseases, be sure to treat the plants.

Application in landscape design photo

Aster long-term undersized planting and care, which is quite acceptable, is quite often used to decorate flower beds, borders and create hedges. Due to its short stature, you can create unusual shapes and patterns or make a carpet of flowers, because if you follow all necessary rules, then these plants are able to delight you with their bright flowering and unforgettable forms.

They can be used both in group compositions with other plants, and when planted in flower beds alone. They will look unusual next to dahlias or phlox. They are also excellently combined with, carnations and other flowers, whose shapes are similar to asters.

Where is it better not to plant asters:

Next to gorgeous roses or lilies that will simply outshine their delicate beauty.
It is not recommended to plant in the place where tulips or other asters, potatoes or tomatoes used to grow. All of these plants can contribute to Fusarium infection.
Do not plant under or near evergreen conifers, as green needles can infect a nasty rust.

All wishes and precautions should be taken into account in order to grow high-quality and healthy specimens of perennial asters.

If you want to decorate your balcony, gazebo or veranda, then compact varieties of asters that are planted in hanging pots are ideal for this.

The most common types used for design household territories, are undersized perennials. Alpine aster occupies a leading place, since the unforgettable autumnal lush flowering of this species does not allow you to take your eyes off the plant and allows you to compare it with flowering.

Asters are flowers that begin to bloom in the fall and are the last to wither with the onset of winter. If you want to fill your garden with gorgeous flowers that can delight you even with the onset of slight cold weather, then asters are best suited for this.

Reproduction of a winter perennial aster by dividing a bush video:

Perennial asters occupy one of the first places among flowering plants in terms of the variety of shapes and shades of flowers. Breeders have bred many varieties of these wonderful representatives of the flora. They decorate gardens, parks, country and city flower beds. Landscape designers often use them in their projects, both in multi-colored and monochrome compositions. You can see a photo showing some samples of their work, as well as familiarize yourself with the description of different varieties of asters.

The main morphological features of an aster

Astra is one of best plants, which are suitable for growing in cold climates, where warm days are few, and the sun sparingly warms the earth. Perennial asters are not afraid of frost and sudden temperature fluctuations. They have gained immense popularity among gardeners for their simplicity in care, resistance to diseases and pests, and ease of reproduction. To their main characteristic features the following indicators can be attributed:

Attention! Aster is cultivated as a perennial, biennial and annual. Before planting a plant, make sure that you are planting exactly the type you want. These plants differ in the technology of caring for them, reproduction and planting.

Only perennial asters: names and descriptions of different varieties

Perennial plants are divided according to flowering periods: there are early, medium ripening and late ones. All varieties differ in the color of the petals, their shape and the height of the bush. The early asters, which begin to bloom at the end of May, include the following types:

alpine aster - a small bush (height up to 25 cm) is often planted to decorate alpine slides, frost-resistant, unpretentious in care, depending on the varieties, flowers can have different colors, is popular with gardeners;

Alpine

aster Albus - the height of the bush is about 30 cm, the stems of the plant grow up to 20 cm long, thickened with foliage, the flowers are white, the edging of the core is two-row petals;
aster Happy End - a low bush, only 25 centimeters, erect and strong stems, petals are painted in a delicate pink tone, blooms for more than a month.

Mid-early varieties ripen and begin to bloom in July:

italian aster (chamomile) - grows up to 60 cm, the doubleness is average, the flowers have several rows of petals that almost cover the core, the colors of the petals are very different: lilac, pink, purple;

Italian

aster Frikarta - a shrub of medium height (75 cm), blue petals are located around the yellow core, the flowers look delicate and fragile, bloom alternately;
aster cleansing - in the process of growth, the bush is formed into a spherical shape, up to 50 cm in diameter, the petals are lilac-blue, not large, very fond of light areas, not afraid of drought and powdery mildew.

The turn for flowering of late varieties begins in September:

shrub aster - the plant stems are thin, the root areas are denser and tough, the flower petals are painted in purple tones, flowering begins in August, and can continue until the first frost;
aster heather is a compact bush up to 1 m high, flowers are white, very small, their tubular core differs sharply from the color of the petals (sometimes yellow, burgundy, brown), which gives the plant a piquant look;
aster New England is a powerful bush, with strong and thick stems, their height reaches 1 m, flowers are large, double, the main shades of petals are purple;

New English

aster new belgian - a very tall bush, can grow up to 1.4 meters, some stems are strongly leafy, others are almost naked, the predominant color of the petals is lilac or purple, sometimes pink and red flowers are found;
aster Marie Ballard - a variety with blue, semi-double flowers;
splayed aster (white forest aster) - 60-centimeter bush, the shoots are similar to grapevine, pale pink petals frame the yellow core, which subsequently takes on a bright purple hue, the shape of the bush is lush and spreading.

Council. Any aster will look advantageous on multi-tiered flower beds, if you choose her appropriate place, most importantly, do not forget about the height of the bushes, you can not plant low bushes behind tall giants.

Aster is a favorite flower

Why did gardeners love this flower so much? The answers lie on the surface: aster is not capricious in care, it grows, practically, on any soil and in different climatic zones. It is good in gardens and parks, on flower beds and borders, on alpine slides and near water bodies. It makes beautiful bouquets and landscape compositions.

One of the advantages of an aster is its late flowering. Flower lovers can enjoy their appearance until late autumn. More than 200 species and varieties of this plant are already blooming in gardens around the world, and the flower's popularity is growing every year.

Perennial unpretentious asters: video

Perennial low-growing aster is a shrub up to 40 cm high. During flowering, these low-growing perennials resemble a colored, very bright pillow. In September-October, many gardens and flower beds are decorated with flowers of amazing beauty, blooming wildly in the background autumn nature... These are asters, which can be grown as an annual crop, as well as a perennial one.

Perennial aster varieties

The most widespread varieties are undersized, and the people affectionately call them saintbrinks, frosty, shooting stars ... The tops of the undersized aster shoots are crowned with inflorescences that can be both pale pink and carmine, dark purple or all kinds of shades of blue.

Still undersized aster is called bushy. The bushes of perennial undersized asters planted close to each other merge into a solid carpet that dazzles the eyes during flowering. The stems of this herbaceous plant branched, straight. Inflorescences are baskets, reaching, depending on the variety, up to 3 cm in diameter. At the edges, the flowers have a ligulate shape, and in the middle a yellow tubular shape. Perennial aster blooms for 35-40 days. Plants are loved by many growers for their unpretentiousness and easy care.

How to grow a stunted aster

Aster grows well in sunny areas, but is able to withstand light shade. Low-growing varieties of asters can be planted in whole groups, made borders from bushes. Bright bushes of autumn aster can be a soloist in a flower bed. Low-growing aster varieties can be used to frame garden paths. Planting these plants is very easy.

Site selection

In order for your asters to bloom magnificently in the fall and grow well for several years without transplants, you should choose the right site for them. The best place for planting perennial asters - this is a sunlit area. The more the bushes receive sunlight, the more abundant and luxuriant they will bloom.
Astra, of course, loves watering in dry weather, but at the same time it absolutely does not tolerate stagnant water. Therefore, a site for it must be selected without the occurrence of groundwater and not in a lowland. Ideally, if the chosen place is on a small hill, so that water does not accumulate at the roots of the bushes.

On the northern side of the site, this plant will not bloom profusely - aster loves warmth and sun.

Landing

The best period for planting, transplanting and breeding perennial asters is spring. Experienced florists, so as not to infect your site with viral diseases garden plantsprefer to buy planting material in nurseries or in specialized stores. You can also grow aster from seeds or by cuttings, dividing a bush, if you already have such plants.

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Seed method of breeding asters

The seed method of growing perennial asters is suitable only for the Alpine aster variety. The fact is that perennial aster seedlings take root very poorly and grow weakened. Seeds are sown in the fall, almost immediately after harvesting. But you can sow seeds in the spring, when the air and soil are warm enough.
As soon as it gets warm, the seeds will begin to germinate, and in the fall, young plants can be planted in a permanent place in the garden. In one place, a flower can grow without transplants for up to 5 years.

Growing perennial asters from cuttings

A very common planting of this perennial crop is cuttings. It is necessary to start cuttings in early spring, at the moment when young shoots begin to appear. Shoots with a length of 15 cm are cut onto cuttings, the lower cut should be at an angle. The lower leaves are cut off from the cuttings, leaving only two leaves at the top of the shoot. Before landing, many experienced florists keep cuttings in a growth promoter or just in water.

Prepared cuttings are planted at the corners in a shaded area under a film cover. Usually cuttings take root in a month. You can plant cuttings in greenhouses or in boxes under the film. The boxes are filled with a mixture of turf, peat and sand, taken in equal parts. It is advisable to shed the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate before planting to exclude the appearance of diseases in young plants. After rooting, the cuttings are left to grow in the same place, and only in the spring of the next year they are planted in a permanent place in the garden. Caring for cuttings consists of regular watering and weeding. Planting a shrub aster is no different from planting other perennials - a hole is dug, spilled with water, the plant is lowered into the hole and covered with earth.

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Dividing the bush

If your perennial aster bushes have grown strongly, then you can divide them into several young plants. Usually an aster bush grows in the same place without transplanting up to 5 years. But after 5 years, the plant must be planted. When dividing the mother bush, it is dug up and the roots are freed from the ground. Then, with a sharp tool, the rhizome is divided into several parts, making sure that several shoots remain on each division. The old root must be thrown away.

Divide the bushes early autumn or in the spring. For early varieties of asters, an autumn transplant is preferable, and for late varieties, a spring one.

Plant care

Perennial aster is very unpretentious plant and caring for it is very simple. This is one of the few ornamental plants in the garden that you can safely forget about immediately after planting. But nevertheless, in order for the aster to bloom magnificently and not get sick, it is necessary to follow very simple rules of care. Caring for this perennial comes down to routine watering, weeding and disease control.

Watering

Astra does not like dampness, and therefore there is no need to water it too abundantly. But in the summer, and especially during the dry season, when it is hot, the plants must be well watered in the evening.

Mulching and loosening

Aster can grow on any soil, but still this plant prefers loose, breathable soil. If you have heavy soils on your site, then you will have to loosen under the bushes throughout the season.

Be sure to remove weeds around the bushes, as weeds can drown out the aster and prevent it from developing well.

To weed less frequently, you can mulch the soil around the roots. It is better to use crushed peat as mulch tree bark or sawdust. Mulch will not only keep weeds from growing, but it will also help to retain moisture in the soil, which will allow you to water your plants less often.

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Top dressing

Asters are very responsive to the application of mineral and organic fertilizers. In spring and summer, any organic matter can be applied under the bushes, phosphate fertilizers and lime. During the active growth of the bushes, they should be fed with humus. Fertilizing will help the bushes gain green mass and set more inflorescences.

Pruning bushes

To form beautiful crown shrub undersized asters require pruning. If you plant asters along the paths, then you definitely need to prune to keep the bushes compact.

Wintering

Aster refers to winter-hardy plants that even tolerate well very coldy... Before the onset of cold weather, you should cut the ground part of the bushes and cover the roots with compost if winters are too harsh in your area. Aster can also be covered with fallen leaves or covered with sawdust. Covering for the winter is especially important for young bushes with a not yet mature root system. In winter, care is not needed for the aster.

Diseases

Most often, perennial aster suffers from the appearance of gray rot and powdery mildew. Damp weather or lack of care can be the cause of these diseases. To prevent the appearance of these unpleasant diseases, the bushes should be sprayed with soapy water several times per season.

Use in garden design

Shrub aster the best way suitable for garden decoration and creating interesting landscape design... These plants grow very quickly, and, thanks to their spreading bushes, form a beautiful background for the buds of other garden dwellers.

The flower can be used to create living borders, as a hedge, to create green sculptures. Shrub aster has one very important property for flower growers and landscape designers - you can quickly “cover” ugly areas in the garden with bushes. Dwarf aster can look great in the foreground in a flower bed.

In translation from Latin, aster means "star". So it was named for the shape of the flowers that resemble an asterisk. Caring for this plant is really very simple, and the flower itself looks very beautiful in the garden. Try and grow on your site low-growing varieties of asters, which will become the main decoration throughout the fall of your personal plot.

Photo of varieties of perennial asters.

The Asteraceae family, or Asteraceae, numbering, according to various opinions, from 200 to 500 species, most of which grow in North and Central America. Asters are rhizomatous plants with simple leaves, inflorescences are baskets collected in panicles or scutes, their marginal flowers are ligulate of various shades, and the central ones are tubular, small, almost always yellow. Aster flowers have been cultivated in Europe since the 17th century, and flower growers have succeeded in breeding, growing varieties of amazing beauty, among which there are specimens of all kinds of colors and shapes. Aster propagates by seeds. Depending on the quality of the inflorescences and the height of the stem, asters are used for borders, group plantings, rabatoks, rockeries or as decoration for balconies and terraces. Very beautiful bouquets of asters, which stand for a long time in the cut.

Asters - growing from seeds

Growing asters of their seeds is carried out by seedling and seedling methods. Early varieties of asters are sown in the soil in early or mid-March, and then in July you can already admire their flowering. Later varieties - in late April-early May, when the air temperature will be at least 10 ºC. But be aware that asters grown from seed in a seedless way, bloom later than those that you started growing in a greenhouse. Asters are sown in shallow grooves (up to 4 cm deep), watered abundantly, covered with soil, and with the onset of dry weather either mulch or cover the planting site with covering material until shoots appear. Then the covering material is used only in case of frost. In the development phase of seedlings of two or three true leaves, they are thinned out so that the distance between shoots is 10-15 cm. Transplant excess seedlings to another place.

When to sow asters. Early varieties of asters bloom 90 days after planting, mid-early ones - after 110 days (early August), late ones - after 120-130 days (late August-mid-September). That is, before sowing aster, you need to make simple calculations. Late varieties of asters can bloom until the very frost. Asters are sown not only in spring, but also in late autumn, before winter, directly into the grooves on the frozen ground - in this case, the plants are almost not damaged by fusarium. When shoots appear in spring, thin them out. By the way, do not forget that the shelf life of seeds is short: after two years of storage, germination is halved.

Growing asters in seedlings much more reliable than the reckless one, although it requires a little more time and labor. Seedlings are sown in early April or May, depending on the variety. A week before sowing, wrap the aster seeds in a cloth and soak in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After 10-12 hours, wring out excess moisture from the fabric, put it in a plastic bag and place it in a warm place for germination. As a container for growing asters for seedlings, you can use boxes or pots. The soil for asters should be light and fertile, be sure to pour it with a fungicide solution before planting.

Sow the already hatched seeds into the grooves made in the ground, sprinkle them with a layer of sand 0.5 cm, pour through a fine sieve with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and, covered with glass or film on top, put them in a warm place (20-22 ºC). If you sowed seeds that were harvested last year, you can expect seedlings in 3-5 days. After emergence, transfer containers to a cooler room - about 16 ° C. The picking of sprouts is carried out according to the 4x4 cm scheme, when they have 3-4 real leaves. When diving, shorten the roots of the seedlings. Add ash to the transplant soil, water the dived seedlings moderately.