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Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ( sim - fy - oh - endeavour - kum ob - farseeing - ee - FOH - lee - um ) is a wild , aboriginal member of the Asteraceae fellowship of flora .
This repeated wildflower is aboriginal to North America and develop in various natural setting throughout the United States and northeastern Mexico .
You may also hear this flora refer to as :
The plant ’s genus name , Symphyotrichum , is derived from the Hellenic word symph ( arrive together ) and trich ( haircloth ) . This is plausibly a reference to the plant life ’ more or less fluffy seed .
The specific epithet , oblongifolium , is Grecian for “ oblong leaves . ”
Hardy Asters Care
Size and Growth
Wild Aster has a compact , just , mounding ontogenesis drug abuse . private plant life may attain a height and spread of 1′ to 3′ feet .
Its dark green foliage and stems are redolent when squeeze . The leave are between 1″ and 3″ inches long .
You ’ll feel ripe longsighted leave at the base of the radical , medium foliage in the midsection , and shorter , new foliage at the top .
Flowering and Fragrance
The plants ’ somewhat , showy , violet - pink , daisy - alike blooms with yellow heart and soul are on showing from late summertime until other winter . However , the flush time may vary depending on the variety of aster .
This slightly fragrant aboriginal wild flower is specially good to a wide salmagundi of specialized native bees . The efflorescence are also quite long - lasting when used as cut flowers .
Light and Temperature
Aromatic Aster flowers like full sun but will grow in fond shade . This sunny native wild flower is winter hardy in USDA hardiness geographical zone 3a to 8b .
Related : Growing Aster Novae - Angliae
Watering and Feeding
Aromatic Hardy Aster does well when handle as the wild flower that it is . For the most part , it will expand on instinctive rain .
In fourth dimension of extreme drought , casual deep watering is appreciated , as they have drought tolerance once demonstrate .
pee at terra firma level , but stave off overhead watering . They do n’t like to sit down in soggy soil , so insure there is excellent drain .
Moreover , it ’s just to maintain an column inch of H2O per week , especially for first - year plants in the absence of rain .
A three - column inch layer of organic compost will facilitate retain wet while provide the plants with more than enough sustenance . Take care not to permit the mulch fall in contact with plants ’ stems , which may lead to fungous problem .
Soil and Transplanting
Aster prime will do well in almost any racy soil . However , they thrive in fertile , well - drained , damp soil . Moreover , they prefer slightly acidic soil .
They are also not fight back to piteous , rocky , sandy soil , but poorly draining soil with high corpse content will do problems with root decomposition , powdery mold , and other fungal disorder .
If planting immature plants or divisions , be sure to site the crown of the works at the soil level . Newly planted Wild Aster should be deeply watered , and the soil keep open slightly moist until the flora become well established .
append organic mulchis also advocate to supply food and hold wet .
Grooming and Maintenance
As the season progresses , plant may lean to tumble over . You may want to stake them . Alternatively , you may cut back them mid - time of year .
Late in the fall or early in the winter , prune the plant life to the theme , leaving the rosette of leaves at flat coat story . you could also pinch back the hardy aster ’s grow wind between late spring and early summer to further more blooms and bushy ontogeny .
If plants become overcrowded , divide them .
Moreover , it ’s important to stake or cage tallvarieties of astersto keep them from falling over .
How To Propagate Hardy Asters
Hardy Aster seeds ( achenes ) have little tufts of whisker and are well squander about by the wind and will ready roots in such various options as dry woodlands , prairies , bouldered outcrop , dry open ground , disturbed stain , slopes , loose shale , and limestone .
Mature plants also spread through underground runners .
If establish Aromatic Aster from seed , sow it right on the surface of the prepared grunge and adjure the seed into the stain . They need exposure to light and air to germinate .
If you promote them to grow in a wild - scaped setting , you’re able to lie down the pruned branch with spent aster blossom on the surface of the soil where you want them to grow . You may wish to cut down them using a mulching mower , but do n’t cover them deep .
If you like to reduce an exist stand of Wild Aster , you could divide it and transfer the extras in a unexampled setting .
Moreover , you could also propagate hardy asters via partition . Just split up the objet d’art with your knife from the mother plant along the edge of the root musket ball .
Hardy Asters Main Pest or Diseases
As long as Hardy Asters are not overwatered or overcrowded and are getting wad of sunlight and just air travel circulation , blighter and disease trouble are jolly non - existent .
However , too much moisture , too little drainage , or too little brightness level will direct to fungal diseases like ascendent buncombe and powdery mildew tortuousness .
representative of other disease that can affect your aster variety include :
Other common insect pests that can attack hardy aster include aphids and lace bugs .
In addition , Wild Aster is not attractive to cervid and rabbits .
Is the plant considered toxic or poisonous to people, kids, and pets?
Native Asters are non - toxic .
Is the plant considered invasive?
These aboriginal plants are not aggressive and are not consider invasive .
Suggested Hardy Asters Uses
These enthusiastic wildflowers do well in aggregative plantings in various context , providing pops of color in late summer and fall .
It ’s also great to set asters confining to spring flowers in your garden , so their beautiful royal flowers can take over when the springtime flower fade .
They are also fairly easy to curb for use withbordering walkwaysor providing a backcloth to a coastal , wildlife , butterfly stroke , or pollinator garden .
In addition , recurrent aster also make a good container flora in fall gardens .
Moreover , the aster plants provide good habitats for modest garden mammals , reptiles , amphibious vehicle , and other beneficial pollinators , making them a unspoiled alternative for a wildlife home ground restoration task .
