Asters

There is little joy to be found for folks behind the wheel when driving along the 401and 402 in Southwestern Ontario unless you appreciate pavement, gravel, highway markers and weeds.  But lucky for me,  I am often in the passenger’s seat, and I get to enjoy the wildflowers in September and fall colours in October and November.

Asters, in white and blue have been strutting their colours through September and will fade by mid-October.  Mostly growing in the center median, Asters possess a surprising ability to grow in poor soil with little water.  This year, with more summer rain than usual, Asters are displaying their colours like never before. 

Asters (Symphyotrichum) are a diverse group of native plants with over 30 different species, each finding their way growing wherever they are suited.  Most grow in hot, dry conditions where little else takes root.  Most are white, while others are blue, lavender and pink.

White Aster, often called Heath Aster or other given names are most abundant and perhaps showiest.  A compact and bushy perennial, White Aster has tiny daisy-like flowers densely layered along its stems, covering the plant from late summer to early fall, just as Goldenrods are beginning to fade. 

A winner in the native garden, Asters are often overlooked in home gardens.  In spring and summer, when not in bloom, Asters don’t put on much of a display. Leaves are plain green, tiny and rather non-descript especially when planted beside more attractive neighbours. Its wiry stems are upright and almost prickly looking. 

For wildlife, native Asters are second to none.  The floral display attracts a multitude of butterflies, moths, bees and beetles, and are a valuable commodity just before winter. Insects are fattened up and then become a good food source for birds.  Bumblebees and Monarch butterflies appreciate Asters as a food source before their trek south for winter. 

In the garden, Asters bring colour to the fall garden, blooming the same time as fall mums. Pinch back the stems early in July to achieve a tidy plant covered in bloom.  If white is not your favorite, try New England Aster, with bright blue blooms. 

Asters like to grow in hot sun, in well-drained soil. Don’t expect impressive flowers until the plant is established, perhaps a few years after planting.  Asters might self-seed, so you may need to remove new seedlings if you’d like a tidy garden.