Symphyotrichum dumosum
Perennial asters are members of the large Asteraceae kinsperson of plants that include chrysanthemums , daisies , and helianthus .
And while many have a bushy growth habit , only one coinage , Symphyotrichum dumosum , formerlyAster dumosus , is commonly called the bushy aster . You may also know it by the names button , cushion , or long - stalked aster .
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aboriginal to easterly and primal realm of the United States and Canada , the metal money produces voluminous shrubby mounds of foliage laden with small white , pale low , lilac-colored , or pallid pink flower .
They are easy to distinguish in the late summertime to early gloam in forest clearings and along route and current , usually comprehend in native bee , good insects , and butterflies .
Although it ’s suited to cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8 , you ’re not likely to rule the actual speciesS. dumosumplants for sales event , but rather cultivated hybrid .
Photo via Alamy.
In ourguide to rise astersyou’ll discover an overview of these plants and their cultivation .
Our present discussion focuses on understanding the bushy aster mintage , admit its cultural requirements , cultivation , crossbreed , and diversity .
Here ’s what ’s in memory board :
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
Propagation
How to Grow
Cultivars to pick out
Maintenance
Pests and Disease
Best Uses
permit ’s get acquaint with this mintage .
Common name(s):Busy , button , cushion , or long - stalked asters
flora type : recurrent flower
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):3 - 10
Native to : Canada , United States
Bloom metre : Late summer to fall
pic : Full sun
Soil case : Organically - rich loam , well draining
dirt pH:5.1 - 6.8 , acidic to slightly acidulous
Spacing : 12 to 36 inch
Planting depth:1/8 inch ( seed ) , profundity of beginning ball ( transplanting )
grow size:12 - 24 inches extensive x 12 - 36 column inch high
Water Needs : Moderate
Taxonomy
parliamentary law : Asterales
Family : Asteraceae
Genus : Symphyotrichum
mintage : Dumosum
Varieties : Gracilipes , pergacile , strictior , subulifolium
cultivar : Various
The shaggy-coated aster species , S. dumosum , is explicitly classified asS. dumosumvar . dumosumbecause multiple varieties have been identified , including :
A smorgasbord has one or more slimly dissimilar traits but shares the overall characteristics of the species plant . In the case of the bushy aster , these varieties are sometimes considered “ synonyms ” that warrant further study .
And while their distinctions may not directly impact menage horticulture , their position in the wilderness is of the last concern to environmentalist .
For example , S. dumosumvar.strictioris a maybe threaten “ Wisconsin Special Concern Plant . ”
Another challenge to understanding thedumosumspecies is that these plant crossbreed in the wild , cut through with other penis of theSymphotrichumgenus .
An example is the rareS. dumosumxS. laterifolium , a natural hybrid with morphologic variations of the still hunt and petals .
The shaggy-coated aster has a “ composite ” flower consisting of petal - like rays around a central disc of floret . It measures less than one column inch across .
The rays may be blank and faintly blue , lavender , or pink . They surround a icteric center that bit by bit compound to reddish - brownish .
The plant has multiple straw with lateral stems or “ inflorescences ” with a peak at the final end . Another name for the inflorescence of a compound blossom is “ anthodium , ” a word you may add up across as you explore the species .
Plants mature to 12 to 36 inches grandiloquent and 12 to 18 in wide-cut .
Cultivated loanblend offer worthy trait like more compact growth , brighter colors , and large blooms . And , as you will study in the Cultivars to Select section below , some have a broader counterpane of 24 inches wide .
To spring up plants , you ’ll take to start with seeds , theme cuttings , ordivisions of mature specimens .
you’re able to find complete educational activity for starting plants in ourguide to propagating asters . Here are the necessity of each propagation method acting :
From Seed
To set out with source , buy them orcollect them from an existing works . take down that if you garner seeded player from hybrid , they may not spring up true to the parent works .
You canstart seeds indoorsin late winter to get a jump on the growing season .
Alternatively , you’re able to bug out seed outdoors after the danger of frost has passed .
Sow the seeds shallowly , scarcely cover them with an eighth of an in of soil .
From Cuttings
start from cutting is easy . Here ’s how :
When you see new leaves starting to form , you ’ll know the stem has rooted .
From Seedlings/Transplanting
Before you set your glasshouse take off or seedlings out into the garden , you ’ll need to harden them off first .
Do this by placing them outdoors in a protect locating for a few hours each daytime , bit by bit increasing the time over the class of a week .
Here ’s how to set them :
Apply a slow - release , all - role granular fertilizer at planting meter , and urine gently but thoroughly . Keep the plant food away from the stems , as it may cauterize affectionate works tissue .
While the delicate flowers of shaggy asters might propose a crabbed inclination , these aboriginal perennials are surprisingly broken - maintenance once you provide the right growing conditions .
Let ’s dive into how to raise and keep your shaggy asters happy and flourishing .
Light
shaggy-coated asters flourish in full sun , where they ’ll produce the most abundant flower and maintain a compact shape .
They ’ll support partial subtlety , specially in warmer climate , but expect fewer blooms and a leggier habit . Ideally , choose a site that receive six or more time of day of direct sunlight daily .
Soil
The ideal dirt is organically - rich loam , but ordinary lineament is also suitable , cater it drains well and has a mildly acidic pH of 5.1 to 6.8 .
If you ’re planting in clay - heavy soil , consider amend with compost or folio mold to better drainage .
Temperature and Humidity
Symphyotrichum dumosum is dauntless inUSDA Zones 4 to 8 . It prefer moderate humidity but is n’t fussy about atmospherical wet .
The big concern is heat combined with poor air circulation , which can encourage mould . outer space plants well to ameliorate air flow and avoid crowding in to a fault humid climate .
Water
Providean inch of water per week , rain included . After the first year , plants are well - established and command supplemental water only in overly dry and/or raging weather .
Avoid overwatering , as wet foot can lead to stem rot .
Fertilizer
aster do n’t need much in the agency of feed . Too much fertilizer , particularly nitrogen , can stimulate leggy growth and fewer flowers .
If you need to give them a cost increase , apply a wakeful dose of balanced , slow - spillage plant food in other spring . hop-skip any extra alimentation to keep plants bushy and summary .
or else , implement mulch .
Container Growing
Thanks to their manageable size of it and tidy mound use , bushy asters are unadulterated for container . pick out a container that ’s at least 12 inches wide and deep , with drain holes .
fill up it with a well - drain potting mix and order it in a sunny location .
You ’ll need to water more frequently than in - ground industrial plant , peculiarly during the heat of summer , but otherwise care is the same .
Overwintering
In cold climates , trim back the stems to a few inches above ground after the first hard frost . This keeps the plant life straighten out and reduces disease risk .
utilize a two - in layer of mulch over the crown to protect the roots from freeze temperatures .
In warm zones , you may skip the mulch , but a number of cleanup in late fall still help keep things neat and healthy .
It may be challenging to encounter actual metal money like those in the wild when shopping for works .
What you may let on , particularly if you use UK generator , aredumosumhybrids developed by crossing the bushy specie , S. dumosum , withthe New York aster , S. novi - beglii .
Many of these are listed for sales agreement as New York aster , followed by a cultivar name . For instance , S. novi - beglii‘Snowsprite . ’
Others are available under the honest-to-goodness classification , A.dumosus , and the current categorisation , S. dumosum .
Here are three hybrids for your consideration .
Peter Harrison
moderately in pink , perennialS. novi - beglii‘Peter Harrison ’ is a dwarf cultivar suited to Zones 4 to 8 .
plant top out at 12 to 18 column inch tall and demand only 12 - column inch spacing , making them an first-class option for beds , borders , and containers where vivacious belated season color is treasure .
Sapphire
Lavender - blueS. dumosum‘Sapphire ’ is a gnome potpourri suited to zone 4 to 11 .
It reaches a fledged top of only 15 to 18 inch and spreads to 24 inches for a low - visibility surface area of color that is sure to be noticed .
‘ Sapphire ’
‘ cerulean ’ plants areavailable from Nature Hills Nurseryin # 1 containers .
Silver Carpet
Dwarf cultivarS. dumosum‘Silver Carpet ’ , akaS. dumosum‘Silberteppich ’ has white-hot bloom with a elusive hint of lavender .
It is not to be confused with a different species by the same name , the fluent carpeting aka vulgar sand aster , Lessingia filaginifolia , a ground binding species aboriginal to California .
plant life mature to 12 to 18 inch tall and , like the ‘ Peter Harrison ’ cultivar , are space at 12 inch for a demure showing .
Whether you are produce wild varieties or crossbreed , your plant will likely become a bit leggy . you’re able to prune them early in the summer for a more compact form , but you may adversely affect heyday production if you prune too late .
study to prune asters in our guide .
or else , you could stake plants with string and bamboo or metal stake to keep the stalking from flop over and risking damage .
If a stalk jailbreak , make a clean slash with clean pruning shear to discerp it an inch or two above the crown . The crown is where husk and source come together . Ragged “ wounds ” make flora vulnerable to pests and disease .
Additional criminal maintenance includes cutting all stalks to the ground and discarding them at season ’s remnant to keep off harboring dirt ball that may winter in the debris .
However , if you like the look of the fleecy seedheads as wintertime approaches , you could wait until belated winter to fulfill this job .
In three to four eld , you may find that your plant life are herd and/or produce fewer flowers . If so , part your asters and transpose them as desired .
Dividing not only opens up airspace to inhibit fungal disease ; it also rejuvenate flora , improving wellness and bloom output .
Continue this practice as require , and your plants will reward you with bloom well into the time to come .
And finally , every spring , when the new shoots seem , fertilise as we did above for a time of year of vigorous outgrowth .
Asters may be plagued by pest and disease , especially in sustain teetotal or lactating weather .
vulgar plague to be on the lookout for include :
Pests are troublesome enough , but did you bonk that they can comport works diseases ?
One way to address them is to fill your yard with nectar - fat plants that attractbeneficial insects , a valuablebiological component of pest management .
Some diseases to be aware of include :
The wild , species shaggy-coated aster is suited to open spaces with elbow room to allow it to naturalize informally , without garden borders to dictate its behavior .
If you have a clarification in a wooded country of your landscape , a stream bank , or a margin fence , you may require to considerS. dumusom .
In addition to volume planting that offer expansive drifts of tiny blossom that pollinators and songbirds bang , you may want to integrate shaggy-haired asters into a butterfly stroke garden design scheme or total several to amixed native wild flower collection .
Early in the grow time of year , the lush leaf take shape a green background that makes a practiced windbreak should you ask one .
Today ’s dwarf hybriddumusomcultivars are suited to beds , borders , andcontainer gardening , where their small sizing makes them good mixed system potful mates and stand - alone specimens .
Ourguide to aster companionssuggests a variety of plant with standardised ethnic requirement to asters , likegoldenrodandjoe - pye weed .
As a flowered decorator , I look to the aster as a “ filler ” flower for late - time of year arrangements . It affords a backdrop and forcible reinforcement for the other two element of a pattern , the “ thrillers ” that slip the show and the “ spillers ” that give a piece motion .
I care to think of them as filler in the garden , too , bridging the crack between summertime and fall .
Fabulous and Functional Filler
The shaggy-haired aster is n’t for everyone . Some see this shrubby wildflower with its tiny heyday as a elephantine weed , despite its appeal to some of nature ’s most vulnerable wildlife .
However , there are advantageously - behaved hybrid cultivars to deliberate for those who do n’t deal for the species plant .
disregardless of which you prefer , repeated aster blossoms bring much - involve coloring to waning late - season garden . They also make attractive fillerflowers in vase organisation , lasting for up to two week .
Let the bushy aster be a nosepiece from summertime to fall in your landscape , and view it make many hungry pollinator very glad !
And for more information aboutgrowing different types of asters in your landscape painting , you might revel these guide next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right field RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally release May 16th , 2022 . Last updated : May 11th , 2025 . Product photo via Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Nan Schiller
