All About Asters

Asters are an ideal "filler" flower in bouquets. They are flowers the size of coins distributed over airy sprays, visually connecting one flower to another within an arrangement. These dainty, daisy-like flowers with yellow centers, come in a rainbow of pastels. With a long shelf life and year round availability from California, they are gradually winning over flower lovers.

Asters bring a refreshing new look to spring holidays, summer weddings and fall arrangements. They create the casual, wildflower or English garden look that is popular today.

Aster ericoides 'Monte Cassino,' the white dime-sized aster also called September flowers, opened the door for aster filler flowers several years ago. Now there is a colorful parade of Monte Cassino look-alikes, but in different sizes and colors. There are asters the size of dimes, nickels and quarters, and some larger, in white, pink, lavender, and yellow. With proper care, they will last two to three weeks.

Plant breeders are continually adding to the collection. The newest varieties have many improvements. New white varieties, such as 'Sun Remo,' last longer and do not brown out as did the earlier Monte Cassino. Many recent varieties also have larger blossoms which open at the same time. 'Sun Moritz' and 'Sun Sol' are two of the newest introductions which also have sturdier stems.

One way to display asters is with a blend of several different colors in a mixed bunch. The assortment of "colored Montes" includes pale pink, lavender, hot pink, deep rose, bright purple and yellow. New varieties add bright colors such as luminous purple 'Sun Gal' and 'Suntana,' the color of Bordeaux wine. Aster novi-belgii, the New York aster, is another versatile aster related to the Michaelmas daisy. This aster has a larger flower, more prominent yellow center, and a broader leaf. The flowers tend to grow on the tips of the stem. Its color range is pale to deep shades of pink and blue-violet. Some, such as the 'Purple Monarch,' have become so popular, consumers ask for them by name.

In design, the New York aster can serve a different purpose than A. ericoides. Clusters of blossoms on the tips of long stems have a linear quality. It is an ideal filler with rose, lilies and tulips in loose, unstructured, vase-type arrangements.

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