Perennial bush aster: varieties, photos, description

The perennial aster is a flower that, completely undeservedly, often goes unnoticed. The shrub plant, numbering more than five hundred species, is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and ability to grow in almost any conditions. There are many types and varieties of perennial asters, all of them have different bush heights, different flowering times, sizes, shapes and colors of inflorescences. In recent years, perennial asters have become more often used in landscape design: these flowers have found their place in the frame discount and curbs, high Bushes serve as a backdrop for other annuals and coniferous plants, compact ground cover asters decorate rockeries and alpine slides.

All information about the bush perennial aster, with a list of varieties and photos, is collected in this article. Here the most popular types of perennial flowers in temperate climates will be listed, a brief description of the best varieties will be given, and the rules for growing bush asters will be discussed.

Description and characteristics

The perennial bush aster belongs to the Asteraceae or Asteraceae family. This particular plant is a true aster, while the more famous annuals belong to a completely different family of flowers (Calli stephus).

In nature, perennial asters can be found in Europe and Asia, North Africa and North America. In the flower beds ornamental shrubs began to be grown due to their late flowering and suitability for cutting: in the autumn garden, the perennial aster is one of the few bright spots.

Shrub asters can be recognized by the following characteristics:

rhizomatous plant of herbaceous type;
Aster's stems are straight and branched;
the height of the bush can vary from 25 to 160 cm;
the leaves are dark green in color and lanceolate in shape;
the size of the leaf blades gradually decreases towards the top of the stem;
bush aster inflorescences are baskets, the diameter of which can be from 1 to 7 cm;
the edges of the inflorescence are reed-shaped, and in the middle of the aster there are tubular yellow petals;
shades of asters can be very different: white, pink, blue, purple, burgundy and others;
the structure of the flower is simple, semi-double or double;
This plant blooms for a long time - about 35-40 days;
bush varieties are photophilous and do not tolerate extreme heat and drought;
the plant is unpretentious to the composition of the soil, grows well on heavy and clayey soils (aster performs best on humus soil);
perennials tolerate frost well, so they can winter in the middle zone without shelter;
every 5-6 years, aster bushes need to be divided and planted;
Flowers reproduce by seeds and division.

Attention! People began cultivating asters back in the 16th century.Despite the huge variety of varieties and species of this plant, only a few of them are used in landscape design.

Classification of perennials

The variety of varieties of perennial aster is so great that just from this one flower you can create the most interesting compositions in which the plants differ not only in appearance, but also in the timing of flowering.

Types of perennial asters depending on flowering time:

Early varieties They bloom already at the end of May and continue to please the eye until the last days of June (these varieties are also called spring varieties).
Summer asters They have an average flowering period - from July to the end of August.
Late or autumn flowers open their buds with the arrival of September, and their flowering ends with severe frosts and snow.

Important! It is the late bush perennials that can most often be found in gardens and flower beds of the country - autumn asters are the most popular among Russians. Due to the timing of flowering, these varieties are often called the combined word “October” or “September”.

Some experts also divide the types of perennial asters depending on the height of the plants. This results in three groups of varieties:

Low growing or border aster has a maximum height of 25-30 cm. This flower resembles a ground cover, therefore it is successfully used in the design of rockeries and alpine slides that are now fashionable.
Garden asters They have average bush parameters - about 40-70 cm. Most often, such a plant resembles a ball in shape, the bushes look neat and elegant, are in perfect harmony with other plants, and can frame hedges and garden paths.
Perennial tall asters can have a maximum height of 150-160 cm.It is better to use such flowers in the center of a flower bed: all season long, tall shrubs will delight with lush greenery, and closer to autumn they will bloom many colorful inflorescences.

Advice! U tall perennial Asters, the lower parts of the shoots are usually very exposed, so when decorating a flower garden you should think about how to cover these areas.

Common types of perennials

Since there are many varieties of perennial aster (and this variety is easy to see in the photo), experts suggest dividing bush flowers into several types. It is the species characteristics that will help an inexperienced gardener quickly decide on a flower variety, because they take into account the timing of flowering, plant height and growing conditions.

The most popular types of perennial bush asters in Russia will be listed below.

Alpine

The alpine group of asters loves the sun most of all and tolerates even severe frosts. The inflorescences of these plants are single baskets of large sizes, the diameter of which is 2-6 cm.

Alpine varieties begin to bloom in the second year after planting. They belong to spring flowers, that is, the flowering period is early - from May to June. As a rule, these plants are not tall - about 30 cm. A distinctive feature is very lush flowering, inflorescences similar to daisies. Flowering duration is approximately 30 days.

Attention! It is recommended to plant alpine asters in the fall; by this time the plant will have faded and will have time to prepare for wintering.

Italian

The Italian aster is a representative of the summer subspecies of flowers. This is a taller perennial, reaching 60 cm and blooming from July to late August. The inflorescences of these asters are collected in shield-shaped baskets with a diameter of about 4 cm.

All varieties of Italian asters have lilac-blue inflorescences. The seeds of these plants ripen at the end of September.

Bessarabian

Another summer flower, the height of the bushes can reach 75-80 cm. There are many inflorescences on the bush, all of them are painted in shades of lilac. This species is easily recognized by the dark brown center of the inflorescence.

New England

The New England aster is often called the American aster and is a shrub from the autumn group. The baskets of such varieties open in September and delight with lush flowering throughout the fall. Autumn frosts are not dangerous for the New England aster; its flowering can continue even under snow.

The standard, highly branched stems of New England varieties can grow up to two meters. The inflorescences are large, about 4 cm in diameter, with 25-40 flowers collected in large clusters.

New Belgian (Virginian)

The height of perennial bushes can vary greatly depending on the variety, and varies from 40 to 150 cm. The stems of this aster are vigorous, woody, and hairless. The inflorescences are collected in panicles, their diameter is average - about 2 cm.

The color of the New Belgian aster is predominantly pink-purple. The species blooms in September. The peculiarity is a very dense arrangement of inflorescences, between which the foliage is practically invisible.

Bush

Bush asters have soft, pubescent stems, reaching a height of 50 cm. Inflorescences with a diameter of about 3 cm are scattered over the entire surface of the bush, their shape is sparsely corymbose.

In the group of shrubby perennial asters there are also creeping varieties. The dwarf variety can be used as a ground cover.

Important! In the group of bush perennial asters there are many varieties that differ in the shade of the inflorescences, the timing of flowering and the height of the bush.

Agerate-shaped

Photos and names of agerate-like varieties of perennial bush aster are less popular, because these plants are not so much decorative as medicinal. The stems of such flowers are straight, smooth, growing up to 100 cm. The inflorescences are colored blue, small, and collected in corymbs.

All parts of the agerate aster are used for medicinal purposes: stems, leaves and flowers.

Globular

The perennial spherical aster is distinguished by the shape of the bush, which is a perfectly regular ball. The height of this plant is average - about 40-50 cm. The inflorescences are not large, but there are a lot of them on the shoots. The flowers of the spherical aster are pink, and the middle is small and yellow in color.

Terry

In terry varieties of perennials, the inflorescences are very dense, sometimes they resemble motley balls. The structure of the flower is complex, the reed petals are arranged in several rows. The color of asters can vary.

Advice! Terry varieties of perennial asters look very decorative, so they can be used both for decorating flower beds and for planting in pots and vases.

Heather

The heather aster differs from other species in the structure of the inflorescences and the appearance of the bush. The shoots of this plant tend to the ground, and the bushes have the shape of a pyramid. The height of the bushes is decent - about a meter. The inflorescences bloom in September.

The heather aster flowers themselves are small, but their abundance creates the feeling of a solid carpet. The flowers are painted in light shades (white, pink). This type of perennial is most suitable for growing in parks and squares and decorating gardens.

Tatar

Another medicinal plant is the perennial Aster Tatarian. The bushes of this flower grow up to one and a half meters, its inflorescences are small, pale pink or dull blue.

A distinctive feature is the large bright yellow center, which gives the shrub a decorative appearance. The Tatar aster loves moisture and coolness; in nature, the flower grows along the banks of reservoirs and on forest edges.

Popular varieties

It is impossible to list all varieties of perennial asters. Today, these flowers are just gaining popularity, so it is difficult to find a very wide range of seeds and shoots on sale.

Gardeners consider the following perennial varieties to be the most beautiful and vibrant.

Jenny

The medium-sized bushes of this aster resemble hemispheres in shape. The shoots of the flower are branched, even, reaching a height of 50 cm. The inflorescences are double, very elegant, painted in a rich red-crimson hue. Jenny blooms from September until frost.

Lady in Blue

One of the varieties of summer alpine aster. The height of the shoots is a maximum of 40 cm, the bushes have the shape of a regular half of a ball. The diameter of the flowers is 3-3.5 cm, the petals are painted in blue-blue shades. Lady in Blue blooms for a long time - at least 35 days.

Advice! Blue shades are rare in mid- and late-flowering plants, so the blue aster will definitely come in handy in decorating the landscape. Neat balls of perennials will perfectly complement a flower garden with coniferous shrubs or lawn grass.

Gremlin

Varieties called Gremlin are intended for cutting. The stems of these asters are straight and long, and the inflorescences consist of oblong tubular petals collected in large pom-poms. Astra Gremlin Sunny Day is painted in a cheerful yellow shade. There are also varieties with red, purple and orange flowers.

Important! In the line of Gremlin varieties you can find the Mix color; it is impossible to pass by these multi-colored, bright terry balls - the variegated shades immediately catch the eye. In addition, it is easy to make autumn bouquets from such flowers.

Maaka

A rare species of perennial asters, found naturally in the Far East. The bushes of these flowers grow up to 80-85 cm. The inflorescences have the shape of baskets, their petals are painted in delicate blue shades. Maaki's center is bright and yellow.

Maria Ballard

One of the New Belgian varieties of shrub asters. Aster with long and straight stems is perfect for cutting. The rich blue hue of the flowers goes perfectly with the yellow-gold tones of the autumn garden.

Apollo

The height of the bushes of this aster is small - about 30-40 cm. Apollo's inflorescences are snow-white, very similar to small daisies. Under good growing conditions, the shrub grows quickly and can cover large areas.

Kassel

A compact border variety that forms neat spherical bushes 25-30 cm in height. Astra Cassel is excellent for group plantings and blooms from September to October. The shades of this perennial are lilac-lilac.

Sarah Ballard

New Belgian variety with semi-double flowers. The inflorescences are painted in a bright lilac shade, the center of the baskets is yellow. The bushes are quite tall - from 80 to 100 cm. Sarah Ballard blooms from August until frost. You can use this aster for cutting.

Starlight

A very picturesque aster with wine-red inflorescences. The bushes are neat, spherical, their height is small - about 30 cm. The Starlight variety is often used for pot growing; compact plants can frame ridges and decorate alpine slides.

Attention! Shrub asters should not be confused with Chinese varieties. Unlike perennials, Chinese flowers have a lifespan of only one season. Annual varieties include aster Balun, Zarevo, Oblachko and hundreds of other varieties.

Growing rules

Growing a perennial shrub aster is not difficult, because the plant is unpretentious, requires the simplest care and a minimum of attention from the grower. The most important thing is to choose the right place for the flowers. Asters love the sun, but cannot tolerate extreme heat and drought.

It is better to propagate perennial varieties by dividing the bush. It is preferable to do this in the spring so that the flowers have time to acclimatize and develop the root system. The planting pattern depends on the height of the asters: low-growing varieties are planted at intervals of 20-30 cm, the tallest bushes are no thicker than 50-80 cm.

Important! Bush asters grow in one place for 4-6 years, after which they need to be separated and rejuvenated.

Caring for perennials is as follows:

Regular watering during dry periods and more frequent irrigation during the stage of active growth of green mass.
Carefully loosen the soil between waterings or mulching, which is safer, since the root system of asters is superficial.
Infrequent fertilizing with rotted manure, bird droppings or peat, mineral fertilizers with an emphasis on phosphorus (flowers need to be fertilized once a year, starting from the second year of life).
Annual liming of acidic soil (lime is simply poured onto a bush pruned before winter).
Tying tall varieties and spreading shrubs.
Pinching the tops of the shoots allows you to get more abundant flowering.
Pruning asters before wintering - shorten the stems to 10-15 cm.

Attention! In the northern regions, it is better to insulate perennial asters and cover the roots with a thick layer of peat, humus or sawdust. Low-growing varieties can be covered with coniferous spruce branches.

Conclusion

Properly selected varieties of perennial asters will delight you with lush flowering throughout the warm season. The variety of species and varieties of these shrubs is simply amazing: every gardener will be able to choose something suitable for his plot. What is most valued about perennial flowers is their unpretentiousness and amazing frost resistance.

Perennial asters: spherical, heather, low-growing, border