New England Aster



Posted: Monday, October 05, 2009

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tn nursery

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae is the scientific name of the New England Aster, which is an herbaceous perennial plant that is robust and very hardy. It is native to the north eastern parts of the United States . It is a common aster that most homeowners and gardeners are very familiar with. It is distinctive due to the large number of ray flowers it exhibits. It is also known as the New England American Aster .

The New England Aster can grow to heights of one hundred and twenty centimetres. It has numerous stiff, short stems that are hairy. The leaves of this plant are lanceolate and have entire margins. These long leaves clasp around the stems and grow crowded along it. The leaves have three very prominent veins and the lower leaves tend to disappear when it is time for the plant to flower. The leaves give out a strong aroma that is similar to turpentine when they are crushed. The ends of the stems have clusters of purplish-blue flower heads on them.

Flowers and fruits The flower heads are quite showy, with yellow disc-shaped florets in the centre and ray florets surrounding it. The ray florets can be a range of colours , such as deep purple , rosy-lilac , purplish blue , lavender, blue or rosy white . Very rarely these flowers will be completely white , and a pink variety is grown commercially in some areas. These flowers have seven or more petals and are three centimetres in diameter. The flowers are found in clusters of as many as fifty or seventy. The bracts found beneath the flowers are narrow, hairy and sticky and the flower stalk also has sticky hairs on it. The blooming period lasts from August to October.

This plant can be found inhabiting a large variety of soil types and habitats, and the only thing it does not tolerate is strong shade . It prefers growing in open areas such as roadsides, meadows , swamps , wet thickets and fields .

Areas in which this plant can be found are Nova Scotia , Georgia , Utah , Montana , New Mexico , and the Pacific Northwest . It can actually be found in every part of North America that is east of the Rocky Mountains range. It is rare in the far north of Canada , and in most of the southern United States .

This plant is extremely popular due to the attractive ray flowers it produces. As a result, many cultivars of this plant have been produced. Because of how often and widely it is used as a garden plant , it has been introduced to several areas that go beyond its natural habitat and range, such as Europe and many states in the western United States. It is used commonly in low lying areas, as mass plantings along roadsides or to create margins of treelines .

If you grow this plant it should be planted in full sun and moist, rich soil. It is not the easiest form of this species to grow but the colours it gives when in bloom make it quite rewarding. You can divide the plants in late fall to make sure they retain their vigour, and you can do this every two or three years.

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