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Easy in-store ReturnsGrowing aster flowers (Easter daisy)
What you need to know about aster
Name: aster, Michaelmas daisy, Easter daisy, Aster var.
Height: typically 20–80cm, with some varieties growing to 1.2m tall.
Foliage: green linear to lance-shaped leaves.
Climate: southern parts of Australia.
Soil: well-drained soil that is moist in the growing season.
Position: full sun.
Flowering: most flower in late summer or autumn.
Feeding: yearly feeding in spring with a complete fertiliser and compost.
Watering: twice-weekly watering in summer, and weekly in winter.
Appearance and characteristics of aster flowers
Aster plants have big heads of small to medium-sized daisy flowers in colours of white, mauve, pink and lavender blue, most with petals radiating out from a central yellow disc.
Stems on the taller varieties need staking, as the weight of the flowers can make the flower stem sprawl along the ground.
Aster varieties
- Aster amellus: varieties include “Violet Queen” and Pink Zenith; grows to 50cm tall, with violet or pink flowers.
- Aster lateriflorus “Lady in Black”: grows to 80cm with dark leaves and thousands of small white daisies with a crimson centre.
- Aster x frikartii: lavender blue flower for up to 4 months; some varieties grow up to 70cm, including “Monch” and “Jung Frau”.
- Aster laevis “Calliope”: grows to 90cm with black stems and lavender blue flowers.
- Aster divaricatus: black stems growing to 50cm, and massed white starry flowers with a red eye.
Uses for aster
Aster plants look fabulous grown in flowering borders, pots and garden beds.
How to grow aster
Aster plants are frost-tolerant. Some species die down in winter in cool climates, but remain as low ground covers in warmer areas.
Aster plants must have a sunny, airy position to stop mildew, which can be a problem in humid conditions.
While aster plants prefer moist, fertile soil, they will tolerate occasional dry periods.
Pruning and propagating aster
How to prune aster
- Cut flower stems back to the ground after flowering.
How to prune aster
Aster can be divided in winter:
- Lift and divide plants.
- Plant cuttings around the garden.
Diseases and pests affecting aster
The most common disease affecting aster is powdery mildew or Botrytis (grey mould). If this occurs, spray with a fungicide and put all prunings into the bin after the winter cut-back.
If you like this then try
Salvia “Wendy’s Wish”: tall and wide bush with spikes of magenta flowers for most of the year.
Chrysanthemum: the perfect flowering companion for salvias.
Daffodil: as your mums finish for the year, your daffodils will start to fill the gaps, giving you a wonderful seasonal change.
Start growing today
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More D.I.Y. Advice
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