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The Perennial Garden: Asters

Asters, Michaelmas Daisy. Asters are not valued [48] for the beauty of their individual blooms, but rather for the mass of color they supply during August, September, and October, enlivening the garden at a time when other flowers are scarce. They are not particular about the soil they grow in, but the size of the flowers can be somewhat increased by planting in wellprepared beds and by keeping them properly cultivated and watered. When once established asters are apt to overrun the garden and become more of a pest than a joy. These trespassers should be treated as weeds and rooted out at the time of cultivation. They can also be kept within bounds and propagated by frequent division of the roots. Propagate also by cuttings taken in spring from the new growth; this method is to be preferred to raising new stock from seed, as asters grown in this way rarely come true to variety. Seed sown in spring will produce flowering plants one year from the following autumn.

Varieties. Snowflake, white, Climax, lavender, Glory of Colwall, blue, St. Egwin, pink, Mrs. F. W. Raynor, purple.

Alpine Asters bloom in May and June, and only grow to a height of from 6 to 10 inches and are best adapted for wall gardening purposes.

Varieties. Alpinus, lavender, Alpinus Alba, white.

Boltonia, False Chamomile. Boltonia resembles [49] the aster in appearance and time of bloom; it is however taller growing and is appropriate for planting toward the back of large beds, and borders, or for use as an accent plant. It is best propagated by means of divisions made spring or autumn, or by cuttings taken in spring.

Varieties. Latisquama, lilac, Asteroides, white.