Just as after a long and cold winter we all look forward to the appearance of the very first tender flowers, so in the fall, when nature fades, we admire the flaming bonfires of perennial autumn plants. Everyone who is fond of growing flowers in the garden will surely sooner or later get to know the true queen of the autumn garden - aster.
These spectacular bright perennials delight with a diverse palette of shades. Planting and caring for these plants is not difficult. In this article we will talk about popular varieties of asters, the features of their planting and cultivation.
Astra: plant description
This is a perennial shrub from the Asteraceae family. Do not confuse it with annual asters, which are often called callistefus. In vivo, perennial autumn aster is found all over the world: it grows in Asia and Europe, America and North Africa. This plant began to be cultivated at the end of the 16th century. The name of the flower is translated from Greek as "star". According to legend, the aster appeared on Earth from fallen star dust. The Greeks were sure that this flower brings good luck, it was their amulet.
Autumn Astra belongs to perennial and annual plants. According to various sources, there are from 200 to 500 of its varieties in the world. Their vast majority grows in the territory of North and Central America.
The plant has simple leaves and inflorescences-baskets, collected in scutes or panicles. Depending on the variety, they differ:
- bush height;
- coloring;
- leaf shape.
Most often, autumn aster has needle-shaped flowers. In central Russia and the northern regions, annual varieties are grown. In the south, perennials are preferred. All species are characterized by long and beautiful flowering, excellent resistance to negative climatic conditions. These are photophilous and drought tolerant plants.
Popular varieties
Among the late-flowering autumn asters include several popular varieties - New Belgian, New English and shrubby. New Belgian asters grow to one and a half meters. Bushes have many branches, densely covered with leaves. In this case, there are stems with virtually no deciduous mass. In the color scheme of this group, lilac-lilac shades prevail, sometimes pink and red are found. A very spectacular bouquet of asters of this species.
Amethyst
This variety blooms for almost a month with semi-double dark purple flowers. Up to six flowers with reed petals are formed on one stem.
Bellard
Another amazing variety of asters. The bouquet of them looks amazing. In addition, this variety is often used for planting in flower arrangements. The bushes bloom very luxuriantly, so they are often used for a single planting. The flowers are medium-sized, bright pink.
Saturn
Bushes grow to one and a half meters. Lush blue inflorescences with a diameter of four centimeters delight the eye for almost a month.
Perennial bush aster
The plant is a compact, but dense flowering bushes. They do not grow in height more than fifty centimeters. This variety blooms in early September and delights with beauty before the onset of the first frost. Flowers have a white or light purple color.
Blue bird
Another low-growing bushy autumn aster, which can even be called dwarf, since the height of the plant does not exceed 25 cm. The variety is ideal for creating a composition of low-growing plants as the main element or as a border. Color is sky blue or in lilac colors.
Venus
Also applies to dwarf varieties, about twenty centimeters high. It is used as a hanging option for framing flower beds. It blooms with one of the last, later other varieties. Violet-pink flowers delight for a month starting in September.
New England asters have several main characteristics:
- thick shoots;
- powerful bushes with straight and tall stems.
Brownman
A meter-tall bush blooms in September. Beautiful lush inflorescences gather in violet-lilac brushes. Flowers are equally good both in bouquets and in flower beds. It is often used as a hedge.
Dr. Ekkener
Tall autumn flowers. Asters of this variety grow to one and a half meters. This magnificent plant blooms with red-violet flowers with a diameter of 4 cm for a month.
Rote Stern
An amazing variety of autumn perennial aster with rather large flowers of carmine shade. The height of the bush reaches one and a half meters.
Preparing an aster for landing: choosing a place
We briefly described the popular varieties of autumn asters, now it's time to familiarize yourself with the planting conditions. To obtain a beautifully flowering plant, you need to choose the right place for planting and prepare the necessary soil.
You can grow autumn perennial asters anywhere, but if you want to get lush bushes and achieve active flowering, you need to choose the most suitable place on the site. Astra feels great in open, well-lit areas. Sunlight contributes to the development and growth of the entire bush, and not just foliage and stems.
We must not forget that in most cases, the choice of site for planting depends on the variety and type of aster. If you decide to plant several varieties, choose them in height. Thus, when earlier varieties fade, they will not cover later varieties. To frame the paths, undersized or dwarf ones are suitable, and tall ones look good along the fence.
Soil preparation
Asters need moderate, loose, permeable loamy soil. Mineral and complex fertilizers must be added to it throughout the season.
Before planting, you should prepare the soil: dig it, make mineral and organic fertilizers.
When to plant asters?
Planting, reproduction and transplantation of perennial asters is carried out in spring and autumn. It is advisable to purchase planting material in specialized stores or in nurseries. Plants can be planted with seeds, seedlings or cuttings and dividing the bush, if you already have at least one plant on the site.
Planting aster seeds
This method of growing aster is suitable only for the alpine variety, in the case of the rest it is ineffective. This is due to weak seedlings, which do not take root well. The seeds of perennial aster are sown in the fall, immediately after they are harvested. But alpine asters are more suitable for sowing spring, when the soil warms up well. With the onset of steady heat, the first seedlings appear, and in autumn young plants are transplanted to a permanent place.
When the first shoots sprout, the plant needs abundant watering, cultivation and top dressing. In one place, a perennial aster should grow no more than five years, after which it is transplanted.
Cuttings
This is the most popular and common method of planting, as well as propagating asters. Preparations for it begin in the spring, when young shoots only appear. Cut the tops of the shoots about fifteen centimeters long so that the bottom cut is inclined. The lower leaves are removed completely, leaving only two or three upper leaves.
Before planting in the ground, cuttings should be held in a growth stimulator, in accordance with the instructions. Then plant them in the soil (tilted!) In a special shelter with a film. Penumbra is suitable for this. Rooting usually occurs within a month. The ideal soil mixture in this case is peat, sand and turf land. Experienced growers recommend treating the substrate with potassium permanganate. In this position, the cuttings are left until the next spring for rooting, and then transplanted to a permanent place.
Bush division
This method is suitable when you need to transplant an adult bush to a new place. As we said, this must be done in five years. When to plant asters in this case? This can be done both in spring and autumn. Autumn is more suitable to early grades, and spring is more suitable to late grades.
When dividing the bush, it must be dug up and removed from the roots of the whole earth. Only after this, parts with young shoots and roots are separated with a sharp and disinfected secateurs.
Care Features
Despite the fact that autumn aster is considered an unpretentious plant, certain rules for its care should still be followed. Only in this case you will achieve a long and active flowering.
Watering
It is carried out constantly, and in arid times, the volume of water must be significantly increased. This is especially important when the green mass is growing.
Mulching and cultivation
We have already said that asters need light and breathable soil. That is why the cultivation and removal of weeds during the season the plant is necessary. This process can be minimized by using mulch. Peat, sawdust or bark is suitable for this. This will help maintain moisture in the soil, prevent it from drying out and, very importantly, slow down the growth of weeds.
Top dressing
This is a mandatory procedure, because asters love nutritious soils enriched with organic and mineral fertilizers. During the growing season, it is important to feed the plant with humus and phosphorus fertilizers. This will support the bushes, fill them with strength before flowering.
Trim and garter
Autumn asters also need additional care, depending on the variety and type. Shrubby and undersized compact varieties need pruning to form a beautiful crown. If the flowers are planted along the paths, then with the help of pruning it will be possible to create the perfect hedge.
Tall bushes will need support, as they can grow up to two meters in height. As a rule, use long, durable pegs, or a plant is planted along the fence.
Winter preparations
Perennial aster is an unpretentious plant that is not afraid of winter cold. But before winter, the bushes should be trimmed to the root and cover the soil with compost and dry fallen leaves. Such care is especially important for young plants.