How to Grow and Care for Asters

A relative of the daisy with similar-looking flowers, indian aster often grows as ground cover in forests and at field edges. It is considered a delicacy in several East Asian countries, where the young leaves are eaten, often with tofu. Called 'malantou' in southern China, it is both cultivated and wildcrafted for food; dried malantou is also sold as a food ingredient. Like many other aster species, it is also grown as an ornamental.

European michaelmas daisy (Aster amellus) is a European native that's among the first of the asters to bloom. It thrives best in full sunlight in well-drained soil with medium moisture. Good for butterfly gardens.

A relative to sunflowers and daisies, the alpine aster is an early bloomer. It grows a single, brightly-colored flower on each stem. It can easily be grown in flowerbeds and containers, as long as it has good drainage. Plants can be propagated by division or by cuttings.

In hanakotoba, the language of flowers in Japan, tatarian aster (Aster tataricus) symbolizes 'I will not forget you.' In Korea, this edible tatarian aster is called 'gaemi-chwi' and is commonly used in traditional Korean cuisine.

Starshine was originally developed in the Netherlands for container production and is excellent for mass plantings and general use in the perennial garden. It has been recognized with a Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society Award of Merit. It has daisy-like flowers that attract butterflies and birds. It is prohibited to propagate this plant without a permit.