Plant Care GuidesPerennials | Bulbs | Trees and Shrubs |
Vegetables | Fruits | Herbs About This PlantAster thrives in
areas with cool, moist summers. It produces blue, white, or pink
flowers in the late summer or fall. Plant height ranges from 8
inches to 8 feet, depending on variety. Tall varieties make good
back-of-the-border plants and are also attractive planted in
naturalized meadows. Aster is susceptible to powdery mildew and
rust diseases, so choose disease-resistant varieties. Special
FeaturesAttracts butterflies. Site SelectionSelect a site with
full sun to light shade and well-drained soil. Planting
InstructionsPlant in spring, spacing plants 1 to 3 feet apart,
depending on the variety. Prepare garden bed by using a garden
fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches,
then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost. Dig a hole twice
the diameter of the pot the plant is in. Carefully remove the
plant from its container and place it in the hole so the top of
the root ball is level with