![]() Pinching back the stems (removing a few inches of the top growth) before mid-July promotes bushiness and eliminates the need for staking taller species. macrophylla) tolerate deep shade but produce the best flower display with some morning sun. drummondii), white wood aster ( Eurybia divaricata), and bigleaf aster ( E. According to the Garden’s plant evaluation, woodland asters, such as blue wood aster ( Symphyotrichum cordifolium), Drummond’s aster ( S. It’s taking time for gardeners and the green industry to adjust to the generic name changes.Īsters are easily grown in average, dry to moist, well-drained and moderately fertile soils in full sun to part shade. Calico aster, a Chicago-area native, formerly known as Aster lateriflorus is now Symphyotrichum lateriflorum. For example, the native New England aster, formerly called Aster novae-angliae is now Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, a mouthful to be sure. In the 1990s, taxonomists reclassified the names based on new DNA research. Asters are in the daisy ( Asteraceae) family. ![]() The Latin genus name has changed from Aster to tongue twisters such as Doellengeria, Eurybia, and Symphyotrichum-baffling gardeners and professionals alike. The word aster comes from the Greek word for star-a nod to the flower’s shape, which has disk and ray florets. Visit the Garden's Dixon Tallgrass Prairie in autumn to view thousands of New England asters in bloom. The common name, calico aster, refers to the fact that the heads are at first yellow and later turn purplish-red, so that flowers on one plant and even a single head may include both colors at the same time.Learn more about the Garden’s aster evaluation. Specific epithet, lateriflorum, is a combination of the Latin words for side and flower in reference to the fact that the flowers of this species generally are located on one side of the stems, hence the sometimes used common name of side-flowering aster. Genus name, Symphyotrichum, comes from the Greek symph meaning coming together and trich meaning hair in possible reference to the flower anthers. Plant Lore: It has been used by indigenous Americans as a medicinal plant. This plant in 3-gallon containers is 1-1.5′ tall. Its native habitat is relatively shaded habitats, dry to humus soils, usually deciduous woodlands (beech–maple, oak–hickory, mixed hardwoods), sometimes conifer woods, sometimes swamp forests (conifer or deciduous), edges of woods, meadows, usually rocky or sandy stream and pond shores, roadsides. This looks a lot like the adorable daisy fleabane, but daisy fleabane blooms spring into summer, and calico aster blooms summer into fall. Flower heads grow along one side of the branches and sometimes in clusters at the ends. The mostly hairless leaves have a characteristic hairy midrib on their back faces, and branching is usually horizontal or in what can appear to be a zigzag pattern. There are roughly 8–16 disk florets, each with five lobes that strongly reflex (bend backwards) when open. The flower centers, composed of disk florets, begin as cream to yellow and often become pink, purple, or brown as they mature. ![]() They look like tiny daisy flowers with an average of 7–15 short white ray florets. The flowers of calico aster are small compared to most Symphyotrichum species. Tolerates some drought, but looks better when given supplemental water during drought times. Tolerates periodic flooding, which means it’s good for the rain garden. ![]() It grows best in part sun, part shade, or shade in moist, well drained soil. Attracts native bees such as sweat bees, miner bees, and hoverflies, along with other beneficial insects, so it’s good for Integrated Pest Management. This is a late summer into fall blooming plant. Grows somewhat bushy but still dainty, and typically grows to 2-3’ tall with a slightly smaller spread. Botanical Name: Symphyotrichum lateriflorumĬommon Name: Calico Aster, Starved Aster, White Woodland Aster, Side-Flowering Asterĭescription: This is such a pretty, very dainty Florida native perennial. ![]()
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