The author of the text is Dr. Regina Dębicz
The dignified name aster also has more familiar-sounding counterparts: small and small, both related to the flowering time of asters.And so they are called small because of September 29, or St. Michael, and with Marcinkas due to October 24, i.e. the day of St. Martin, when, apart from the asters, almost nothing blooms anymore.
The genus Aster, belonging to the Asteraceae family, includes about 600 species that are found in the natural state on all continents - except Australia.Four species of asters grow wild in Poland: common A. linosyris, saline A. tripolium, alpine A. alpinus and common-bird A. amellus. The latter two have many cultivars, with the Alpine aster blooming in spring and the little talker in summer.
In autumn (from August to November), the bushy aster A. dumosus, the New English aster A. Nova-angliae, the Neo-Belgian aster A. novibelgii and the heather-leaved aster A. ericoides reign in our gardens.These autumn asters, called marclins, come from North America and are very similar to each other.Their inflorescences, baskets with a diameter of 1 to 5 cm, form ligulate flowers in one or more whorls. various shades of pink, carmine, purple, blue and white, the center of the baskets is filled with yellow or golden tubular flowers. Lured by the colors, insects, especially butterflies and bees, come to them for pollen and nectar.
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Aster krzaczasty Aster dumosus (Photo: Fotolia.com) |
What are the differences between autumn asters?
Bushy aster , which, depending on the variety, reaches a height of 15 to 60 cm, has a compact, bushy habit, smooth leaves and flower baskets gathered in umbellate panicles.Creates rhizomes of different length, depending on the variety.
Short rhizome varieties are perfect for low fringes, rock gardens and pathways, while those with longer rhizomes are perfect for bedding. Bushy asters have low soil requirements, but they should be grown in sunny places, as there is less risk of being attacked by fungal diseases. They can grow for 4-6 years in one place.
Aster Nowobelgijski , named after New Belgium, which is today's New York, has 120 varieties. They include both dwarf varieties 40-60 cm high and tall, up to 160 cm.The Neo-Belgian aster has smooth leaves and shoots, creates creeping rhizomes and shallow roots, which makes that it is lush and growing rapidly. Neo-Belgian asters require a fertile, sandy loam and moist soil. Roots of these plants dry out easily, so we must remember to water them. In mid-May, we enrich the substrate by supplying multi-component fertilizers.
In spring, however, it is beneficial to add well-distributed compost soil or organic fertilizers to the substrate. Then we also rejuvenate the older plants by cutting out the lignified centers of the clumps.Properly fertilized and cared for, they will grow in one place for 8-10 years.The rich assortment of New Belgian asters varieties makes it possible to create beautiful multi-colored flower beds and garden groups. They can also be cut into vases.
Unfortunately, this species is often attacked by powdery mildew. Infested asters (leaves with a white-gray coating) should be sprayed with an appropriate fungicide, while the most heavily attacked plants are best cut and burned.
New English asteris represented by about 30 tall varieties (110-150 cm). Their shoots are profusely leafy and strongly branched at the top.The leaves and shoots are covered with short, rough hairs, which makes it easier to distinguish this species from the Neo-Belgian astra.Flower baskets on cloudy days, during rain, in the evening and after cutting, therefore this aster is not suitable off to cut. New England aster does not form rhizomes and therefore does not grow too much. However, it has a deep root system. In nature, New England asters grow among grasses that shade their lower leaves and prevent them from drying out.
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Aster nowobelgijski A. novibelgii (Photo: Fotolia.com) |
In the garden, therefore, it will be good to plant lower plants in front of them, for example raised marigolds or low garden chrysanthemums, which will protect them from the sun. New England asters grow best in calcareous soil, rich in nutrients, in a sunny place.They tolerate periodic water shortage well and are quite resistant to mildew. Tall varieties sometimes require staking.
New England asters grow in one place for 6-10 years, then in spring they should be dug up, divided and planted again.
Heather Asterhas about 20 varieties, which differ in height (60-120 cm) and color of flowers. Lingual flowers are mostly white, light lilac, light pink and blue. Panic-shaped inflorescences form a huge number of small baskets with a diameter of 1.5 cm.Heather astra shoots branch strongly.This species grows on the American prairies, so remember that it requires dry and sunny places. In the garden, liater and goldenrod are good company for him.The heather-leaved astra varieties are very popular among florists, who often use them in flower arrangements.
dividing asters
Perennial asters are divided in spring (in April or even in May), without any worries subtracting young, he althy parts from large, overgrown clumps. They can also be propagated using apical shoot cuttings 8-10 cm long, which are taken from the mother plant in May and rooted at home (amateur).
