Asters are members of the largeAsteraceae family of plantsthat includes chrysanthemums , daisies , sunflower , and Achillea millefolium .
They are daisy - like flowers that by and large blossom from summertime into pin .
Perennial sort are suited toUSDA Hardiness Zones3 to 8 , while yearbook grow in all temperate zones .
Symphyotrichum cordifolium. Photo by SriMesh, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.
They may be big , like the three- to five - inch efflorescence of an yearly paeony China aster , or they may be lowly , like the half - inch flower of a recurrent wood aster .
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Pollinators like bees , butterfly , moth , and otherbeneficial insectsare attracted to the pollen , while foraging birds junket on the seeds . This is especially dead on target of native species .
Symphyotrichum cordifolium. Photo by SriMesh, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.
In ouraster grow usher , we talk over how to arise and care for legion species and cultivated varieties .
In this article , we usher in 11 of the good blue asters .
Here ’s the batting order :
11 of the Best Blue Aster Varieties
Except as noted , heyday sentence are from late summer into gloam . With deadheading , plants may continue to flower until the first frost .
Please note :
Perennial aster , peculiarly native coinage , are vigorous growers . They are make out to overspread aggressively via extensive root systems and ego - sowing .
Be sure to show our21 hint for managing perennial astersso you may maximize your delectation of these dynamic plants .
Also , plant grown in humid region may be prone to fungal infections due to unreasonable moisture . However , while this may touch the leaves , it generally has little effect on the flowers .
fit in to the Chicago Botanic Garden’sA Comparative Study of Cultivated Asters , New England species and cultivar may suffer from powdery mildew , and New York types may be specially susceptible to rust .
To avoid both , be sure to take matured dimensions into account when space plants , to reserve for optimal airflow and inhibit wet buildup .
1. Alpine
The Alpine aster , Aster alpinus , is an early - blooming , non - native recurrent specie that flowers from spring into summertime .
This is a scurvy - visibility plant with mature heights tramp from eight to 12 column inch .
It has a clumping increment use and medium - fleeceable foliage .
Also known as the blue Alpine daisy , this non - native recurrent bears one peak per stalk that valuate about one inch across .
Blue Alpine Aster
Each has a yellow disk surrounded by a individual layer of ray with lavender overtones .
you’re able to see 2000 seedsavailable from Outsidepride via Amazon .
There are numerous cultivar , such as the 15 - inch - tall ‘ Goliath , ’ with its three - in flower . Expect a maximum width of 12 inches , and blank space accordingly .
This is an fantabulous choice for rock garden , border edging , and containers where compact maturation and midget stature are hope .
Please see ourguide to grow Alpine astersfor more data on this species .
2. Blue Bayou
Symphyotrichum novi - belgiiShowmakers ® ‘ Blue Bayou ’ is a tame miscellanea of the aboriginal perennial New York aster , S. novi - belgii .
Also do it as the Michaelmas daisy , the outset of flower often co-occur with the traditional Christian feast day of St. Michael , September 29th , hence the name .
This cultivar is a compact miscellany that gain heights of 10 to 12 inch , seduce it very different from the two- to four - foot native coinage from which it originates .
Its full - double blush have purple overtones and consist of dense ray with no visible center disks .
They measure about one column inch across and are borne on item-by-item stems , unlike the individual blooms clustered in panicles of the original metal money .
outer space to admit a maximum breadth of 18 column inch .
The brusk height and compendious nature of this type make it suitable for border edges , containers , and rock gardens .
3. Blue Wood
The blue wood aster , S. cordifolium , is a magniloquent native perennial species that reaches mature proportion of two- to five - feet improbable .
It has an good increase habit , and arching stems ladened with panicles , or clusters of blossom .
The flowers measure approximately one - half column inch across . They dwell of a single level of picket to smart blue beam of light that surround a yellow center disk .
S. cordifolium
blank space to accommodate a maximum breadth of 36 in .
The tiny blossoms of this passably weedy wildflower show best en masse . Give them way to spread out beside perimeter fences , and in intimate hedgerow and dedicated islands .
determine S. cordifolium seeds nowfrom Seedville via Amazonin packages of 100 .
4. Color Carpet
Callistephus chinensisdwarf ‘ Color Carpet ’ Amytal is a non - native work change of the Formosan aster that grows to a lilliputian eight in tall . It is an annual .
This plant has a clumping maturation habit and medium - unripened foliage .
Lavender - tinted , semi - double blossoms are accept on individual stem turn . They measure approximately three in wide . The multiple layers of rays partially haze over the lily-livered center disks .
C. chinensis‘Color Carpet ’
Please see ourcomplete templet to growing China asters .
look a maximum paste of 12 inches , and infinite accordingly .
This variety show take an excellent container plant , small bedding specimen , vibrant border edging , and rock garden characteristic .
discover seeds now from Eden Brothersin one - ounce or quarter - pound packages . to boot , ‘ Color Carpet ’ is usable in bright ruddy , also at Eden Brothers .
5. Lady in Blue
S. novi - belgii‘Lady in Blue ’ is a modest - profile civilize variety of the native repeated New York aster . It has a fledged height of 10 to 12 inches marvellous .
This type has a compendious growth drug abuse and medium green leafage .
The semi - double flowers measure just about one column inch across . The rays tend toward lavender timbre and surround yellow center disc .
give up 18 inch between works to accommodate mature dimensions .
Best utilisation include border edging , and container specimens where a small bloom is desired .
6. Marie Ballard
S. novi - belgii ‘ Marie Ballard ’ is a cultivate variety of the native perennial New York aster . Its acme ranges from 30 to 36 inches .
This form has an upright maturation riding habit and dark green farewell .
Also do it as the Michaelmas daisy , it has two- to three - in full - treble lavender tinted blooms with halcyon yellow center disks .
Allow 36 inches between plants to accommodate mature dimensions .
This prominent cultivar does best in cozy stack plantings where it can spread , such as roadside border and consecrated islands .
7. October Skies
S. oblongifolium‘October Skies , ’ akaS. oblongifolius‘October Skies , ’ is a cultivate variety of the native perennial redolent aster . It top out at 18 to 24 inches .
It has a stocky , mounding growth habit , and aristocratic - green leaves that are aromatic when crumpled .
Single - stratum blossoms appraise up to one inch across and have lavender - tinged rays surrounding yellow center disks .
outer space flora 24 inch apart to accommodate maximum dimensions .
This cultivar establish intimately en masse and is well - suit to informal woodland configurations .
8. Peony Duchess Blue
C. chinensis‘Peony Duchess Blue ’ is a non - native yearly China aster that grows between 24 and 28 inch tall .
It has an upright growth riding habit , medium green leaves , and one bloom per theme .
C. chinensis‘Peony Duchess Blue ’
Full - two-fold peak with violet overtones measure two to three inches across . They have turned - in , cuplike petals with no visible center saucer .
outer space plants 18 inch apart to allow for maximum width .
The showy blossoms of this cultivar are fit to specimen or mid - position plantings in beds and container .
Find seeds now from Amazonin one - gramme packages .
9. Raydon’s Favorite
S. oblongifolius‘Raydon ’s Favorite , ’ akaS. oblongifolium‘Raydon ’s Favorite , ’ is a cultivate variety of the aboriginal recurrent redolent aster . acme set out from 24 to 36 inches .
It has grey - unripe foliage and a mounding development habit . When the leave of absence are crumpled , they smell like mint .
S. oblongifolius‘Raydon ’s Favorite ’
The fragrant bloom of this case measure one in across , and consist of lavender - tint electron beam fence a yellow center disk .
Plant 24 inches aside to accommodate maximum dimensions .
Use it in butterfly stroke andwildflower gardens , intimate hedgerows , repeated beds and border , mass plantings , and roadside perimeters , where it has way to pass around .
recover plants now from Burpee .
10. Sky Blue
Sky gamy aster , S. oolentangiense , is a native perennial with a mature height of 24 to 36 inches .
This flora has an vertical growth habit and exquisitely branching average - green foliage with panicles , or clump of blossoms .
The flowers measure about one inch across , and comprise of a single stratum of light - imbue blossoms that fill in toward lavender , with sensationalistic center disks .
carry a maximal spread of 24 inches , and plant consequently .
Best purpose include slope eating away controller , roadside borders , and mass plantings .
For more entropy on this species , confer with ourguide to growing sky bluish asters .
11. Smooth Blue
still blue aster , S. laevis , is a improbable native perennial metal money that go past out at 24 to 36 column inch .
It has unsloped , slightly branching stems and gray-haired - green leave of absence that are noteworthy for being very smooth , unlike the hairy foliation vernacular to asters .
The efflorescence are approximately one column inch wide . They consist of a single layer of shaft of light that shade toward lavender , surrounding a xanthous center disk .
wait a maximum breadth of 24 inches , and blank space consequently .
This native species is perfect for informal butterfly gardens , hedge , wayside perimeter , rocky side , wildflower gardens , and woodland preferences .
There is a noteworthy cultivar of this species call ‘ Bluebird . ’ It has violet partial and reach heights of three to four feet .
Varied and Vigorous
These 11 asters vary from yearly to perennial , one rosiness per stem to multiple , single words of rays to double , and native and non - aboriginal metal money to cultivate varieties .
From the too soon - blossom petite Alpine to the lately - blooming New York , all of the metal money and cultivar included allow for eye - catching coloring material and rich texture .
With such an array to prefer from , you ’re certain to detect new favorites to grow in your outside living space .
If you aregardening in small spacesorcultivating in containers , believe compact perennial varieties , or annuals that wo n’t take up ever - enlarging actual estate from year to year .
And if you strike in love with some of the taller varieties , be sure to give them room to roam as nature think , for bulk of blossoms that blanket your gardens with color .
If you enjoyed discoveringthese colourful peak , you ’ll need these usher next :
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Nan Schiller
