Asters:  A Field Guide

 Asters can save the day in late summer and early autumn when everything else in the garden looks tired or dusty.

As other perennials are starting to slow down, asters are winding up to add hints of necessary color. The hues range from pink to purple, red, and also white.

With more than 600 species in the Aster genus, it also belongs to the same family as the daisy. Found wild in North America and Southern Europe, asters are mainly perennials but a few are annuals and biennials. The two main groups of asters are the New England aster (Aster novae anglias) and the New York asters (Aster nova belgii).

While there is a galaxy of asters to choose among, a favorite of ours is Aster frikatii ‘Monch’ for its long bloom time; it grows to a dramatic height of up to 3 feet and bears  large lavender-blue flowers.