No autumn garden is complete without Asters. Their daisy-like flowers grow in masses of refined but intense colors of purple-violet, lavender, white, pink or blue. Gardeners who value perennials that take care of themselves should plant asters, or, if you love the look of an elegant, airy mass of medium purple-violet in your fall garden, plant asters. They begin to bloom by late September, along with the deep, clear yellow Solidago Fireworks and yellow heliopsis, and the combination makes a rich color palette.
One of the loveliest varieties is Aster novae-angliae, Purple Dome, which returns every year, grows about 24 inches tall, doesnt flop over (particularly if you trim it back by three inches in May) and makes wonderful cut flowers. Asters like medium moist, rich soil, sun to partial shade, grow well in our zone 7 and are virtually disease free. All the local plant centers have them now, so pick out some beauties to extend your flowering season.
Nancy Burns is a Certified
Master Gardener. She can be reached at n.burns@cox.net.