Extension Communications 3614 Administrative Services Building Ames, Iowa 50011-3614 (515) 294-9915

10/9/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-8946, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033, jmcguire@iastate.edu

Asters Provide Reliable Fall Color

Linda Naeve,
Extension Coordinator
Reiman Gardens

There are several important people in society and things in nature that don't receive the recognition they deserve. In fact, they often "take a back seat" to someone or something else that's more visible. For example, the vice president holds a very important position, but we rarely hear about the vice president with an active president. In nature, the creature that is the lowest on the food chain is vital, but often unknown. This week's Reiman's Pick, asters, are beautiful fall-blooming perennials, but are often overlooked and overshadowed by chrysanthemums.

It is easy to remember the plant family, genus and common name of asters. They belong to the Asteraceae family, which includes many common flowers, such as zinnias, sunflowers and chrysanthemums. They belong to the Aster genus, which has nearly 300 members, more then half of them native to the United States. The common name is simply a repeat of the genus name.

Yet across the seas in the United Kingdom, the British, don't make it quite that simple. In the mid-17th century, colorful aster hybrids were referred to as "Michaelmas daisies" because they bloom during the feast of the Saint Michael celebration held annually on September 29th. Over the years, these asters naturalized themselves throughout the British countryside and that common name is still used.

Back in the United States, the two most popular species of asters are the New England aster, Aster novae-angliae, and the New York aster (Michaelmas daisies), Aster novae-belgii. They're similar in appearance so most gardens don't realize the difference. Except for a few cultivars, the New England varieties are not as popular as New York varieties. New England asters are better for cutting because they last longer. However, the hairy stems on New England asters can cause a skin rash when handled.
A popular New England aster cultivar is 'Purple dome.' It is a late-flowering variety that produces dozens of one-inch blue blooms on a mounded plant that grows only 18 to 24 inches tall.

There are hundreds of cultivars of New York asters. Depending on the variety, they flower beautifully and reliably from late summer through fall. Plant size ranges from the dwarf cultivars that grow less than 15 inches tall to the very tall cultivars that are over four feet in height. Asters produce many daisy-like flowers in colors ranging from pink to raspberry and blue to purple.

New York asters are susceptible to powdery mildew that coats the foliage white in the fall. Fortunately, it doesn't usually appear until the end of the season so the easiest control is simply to cut the stems back just above the ground and dispose of the prunings.

Although chrysanthemums are the most commonly planted fall-blooming perennials, asters have several advantages over mums. Asters are hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8 and suffer very little winter injury as compare to chrysanthemums, which are typically hardy only to Zone 5.

Asters do not require regular pinching in early summer as do chrysanthemums in order to produce a branched, mounded plant with many blooms. Pinching, or removing the growing point on the shoots, on chrysanthemums should begin in early May and be done every couple weeks through the end of June. Dwarf asters don't require any pinching. The tall-growing varieties may need to be pinched once in early summer to promote branching and more blooms.

Asters can be planted in spring or fall. Plant them in a well-drained location that receives full sun. Although they can tolerate some dry conditions, they perform best when the soils is kept moderately moist. They also make great container plants.

Dwarf asters can be seen throughout Reiman Gardens in beautiful fall displays and in containers.

To learn more about the Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University visit us on the Web at: http://www.reimangardens.iastate.edu/.

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Editors: Two color photos, suitable for publication, are available at right. Click on each thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The top picture's fullsize photo is 492K and the bottom picture's fullsize photo is 416K. Caption: Dwarf asters bloom beautifully in the front of a border or in container. 'Jenny' is a popular raspberry-colored aster for perennial gardens.

Sidebar:
Reiman Gardens 3-D Fall Display
October 22 through November 23
The 3-D Fall Display will include gigantic mum balls, coleus and ornamental grasses.
Hours to see the show:
Tuesdays and Wednesday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Closed on Mondays
Admission to Reiman Gardens: $5 adults; $4.50 Seniors 65 and over; $3 for children age 4- 17; free for children age 3 and under.

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