Variety field guide
What to expect from New England Aster
New England Aster carries masses of pink, violet and purple daisies into late summer and autumn, as earlier flowers fade.
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New England Aster carries masses of pink, violet and purple daisies into late summer and autumn, as earlier flowers fade. Yellow centers invite bees and butterflies to the tall, leafy stems, for a lively border or meadow edge. Native to parts of Canada and the central and eastern United States, it favors moist ground with good light. Give clumps room to develop and pair them with shorter plants around their bases.
Minimum seeds per packet: 250 seeds.
A late-season burst of color for the pollinator garden.
Variety and background
New England Aster benefits from 60 days of moist cold stratification before warm germination. Allow room for mature clumps; first-year flowering is not promised.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Symphyotrichum novae-angliae |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Maturity / harvest basis | Late-season flowers after establishment; first-year bloom varies |
| Seed depth | Surface Sow |
| Germination | 14-30 days |
| Germination temperature | 65-80 F after seed preparation |
| Plant height / spread | 49–60 in |
| Habit | Clumping/Tufted |
| Plant spacing | 24-36 in |
| Row spacing | 36 in |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Pollination type | Open-Pollinated (OP) |
Starting from seed
Surface sow outdoors in late fall, or give seed 60 days of moist cold at 34-40 F before spring sowing. Press in; keep moist and in light. After chilling, allow 14-30 days at 65-80 F. Space 24-36 in. apart in moist, draining soil.
Planting and care
Surface sow outdoors in late fall, or give seed 60 days of moist cold at 34-40 F before spring sowing. Press in; keep moist and in light. After chilling, allow 14-30 days at 65-80 F. Space 24-36 in. apart in moist, draining soil. New England Aster benefits from 60 days of moist cold stratification before warm germination. Allow room for mature clumps; first-year flowering is not promised.
Harvest and use
Let young plants establish before cutting stems; full displays develop with maturity. Leave dry heads for wildlife, or collect fluffy ripe seed before it blows away. Divide crowded clumps in spring and water during prolonged dry spells.
Saving seed
Save seed from several healthy, true-to-type New England Aster plants identified before harvest. Confirm the pollination system of Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, separate compatible varieties that flower together, and remove clear off-types before they shed pollen or seed. Allow fruit, pods, ears, or seed heads to reach full biological maturity, then clean and dry the seed completely. Label the lot with variety, source, year, isolation method, number of seed plants, and any selection notes; store it cool, dark, and dry and test germination before an important planting.
Common problems
Common concerns: damping-off from saturated media; poor emergence from wrong temperature or depth; leggy seedlings from weak light; crowding and weak airflow; lodging in wind or rain; feeding damage from slugs, caterpillars, beetles, or mammals; foliar disease under prolonged leaf wetness. Management: use clean media, the sowing depth and temperature, strong light, appropriate thinning, and morning irrigation at soil level. Match support to plant height before wind becomes a problem. Inspect regularly and use the least disruptive control appropriate to the pest, plant, and pollinator setting. Remove diseased debris and rotate annual flower beds where recurring disease is severe.
Frequently asked questions
What distinguishes this selection?
New England Aster benefits from 60 days of moist cold stratification before warm germination. Allow room for mature clumps; first-year flowering is not promised.
How should I start it?
Surface sow outdoors in late fall, or give seed 60 days of moist cold at 34-40 F before spring sowing. Press in; keep moist and in light. After chilling, allow 14-30 days at 65-80 F. Space 24-36 in. apart in moist, draining soil.
When and how should I harvest?
Let young plants establish before cutting stems; full displays develop with maturity. Leave dry heads for wildlife, or collect fluffy ripe seed before it blows away. Divide crowded clumps in spring and water during prolonged dry spells.
Can I save seed?
Save seed from several healthy, true-to-type New England Aster plants identified before harvest. Confirm the pollination system of Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, separate compatible varieties that flower together, and remove clear off-types before they shed pollen or seed. Allow fruit, pods, ears, or seed heads to reach full biological maturity, then clean and dry the seed completely. Label the lot with variety, source, year, isolation method, number of seed plants, and any selection notes; store it cool, dark, and dry and test germination before an important planting.
