{"title":"Aster","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlthough taxonomists have officially kicked all the US-born plants out of the genus Aster, we refuse to cooperate in this vast left-limb conspiracy. Thus, you may see the genus Aster listed as symphotrichum or ampelaster. Despite the nomenclature controversy, aster is a splendid drought-tolerant, late-season flowering perennial that lends cooler blue-violet tones to the bright, exciting colors of fall. We have several aster varieties to choose from at our plant shop online including some that are \u003ca title=\"North Carolina native plants\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/north-carolina-native-plants-wildflowers\"\u003eNorth Carolina native plants\u003c\/a\u003e. Collect them all!\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eEasy and dependable, aster species generally thrive in full sun and average garden soil. Some are also salt tolerant plants. After months of watching your garden limp through the dog days of summer it is always nice to see the masses of aster flowers open in the fall. Aster flowers \u003ca title=\"Shop all butterfly attracting plants\" href=\"..\/collections\/butterfly-attracting-plants\"\u003eattract butterflies\u003c\/a\u003e and pair well with other perennial wildflowers such as bluestar (\u003ca title=\"amsonia\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/amsonia\"\u003eamsonia\u003c\/a\u003e), solidago, \u003ca title=\"Muhlenbergia\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/muhlenbergia-muhly-grass-cotton-candy-grass-purple-pink-white\"\u003emuhlenbergia\u003c\/a\u003e, and helianthus. When you are ready to buy aster for your garden, check out our online offerings of aster for sale.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"aster-mongolicus-hortensis","title":"Aster mongolicus Hortensis","description":"\u003cp\u003e(aka: Kalimeris mongolica, Kalimeris pinnatifida) It's been hard to keep up with the name changes, since this poor plant's identity has been batted around by taxonomists more than a tennis ball on Wimbledon's Centre Court. A favorite of the late garden writer Elizabeth Lawrence, Aster 'Hortensis' is a wonderful, slowly spreading deciduous perennial which arises in spring to form a dense patch of 20\" tall, interwoven stems, clothed with apple-green, serrated foliage, then topped with creamy white, fully double, 1\" chrysanthemum-esque flowers throughout the summer and into fall...whew! If you look closely enough, you will notice a light lavender blush to the lower ring of petals...that's for you designer types. Aster mongolicus 'Hortensis' blends well into any perennial border by softening more dramatic color contrasts.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003eMaintenance Info:\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAs with many long-blooming plants, Kalimeris can be cut back hard to the ground in mid to late summer if it gets too shabby looking. It will soon be back in new growth and fresh bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Conditions:\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIt will grow and bloom in full sun to quite heavy shade. It might be happiest in part day sun. It is best in soils of average moisture. Though it will survive moderately dry sites, it will not thrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eGarden Value:\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e'Hortensis' is one of those plants that is indispensable not because it is a showstopper but because it is in bloom most months of the frost free growing season (mid spring through summer into mid fall here in zone 7 NC). It is a great foil and filler for those show stopping plants that are in full bloom for just a few weeks. It also is good cut flower.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eNatural Impact:\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eKalimeris 'Hortensis' is a well behaved plant. It's rate of spread is very modest. Indeed, if one wanted additional or bigger masses of it, divide established clumps and spread them out. Dig up a clump or part of a clump and divide it down to single stems, each should have a few short rhizomes, replant them about 6 to 8\" apart, either extending the original mass or starting new masses. This can be done most anytime of the year. Reduce the stems by about a half if transplanting is done while in active growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21000963397,"sku":"1219","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Aster-mongolicus-Hortensis.i-1219.s-21614.r-1_7a44587c-5dea-42be-ad1a-c0d3a3a84fdc.jpg?v=1789044755"},{"product_id":"aster-ageratoides-ezo-murasaki","title":"Aster ageratoides Ezo Murasaki","description":"\u003cp\u003eAster 'Ezo Murasaki' is a Japanese selection of the wide-ranging Asian Aster ageratoides var. ageratoides. Aster 'Ezo Murasaki' makes a large, stoloniferous mass to 2' tall x 10' wide in 10 years. In other words, this is NOT a plant for the small garden, and it does not play well with others its own size. What Aster ageratoides 'Ezo Murasaki' does very well is fill a large space rapidly and reward you in October and November with an incredible blanket of medium purple, very frost-resistant flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21029156933,"sku":"9337","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Aster-ageratoides-Ezo-Murasaki.i-9337.s-68626.r-1_8aefeb9f-6881-4135-92b4-dac9e21cf5b4.jpg?v=1792068166"},{"product_id":"aster-savatieri-edo-murasaki","title":"Aster savatieri Edo Murasaki","description":"\u003cp\u003e(aka: Gymnaster savatieri) We have fallen in love with this wonderful garden-performing selection of the Japanese Aster savatieri. Imagine a dwarf aster that blooms all spring and summer, and you get the idea. Aster savatieri 'Edo Murasaki' makes a small, tight clump of dark green leaves topped, starting in early April (NC) and continuing sporadically throughout the summer, with 15\" tall stalks of attractive blue-lavender flowers...just charming! A toast to anything from Japan associated with saki...or is it sake?\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWatch our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/kalx9XlPGOU\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePlant Spotlight\u003c\/a\u003e video for more information.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21029376901,"sku":"9582","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Aster-savatieri-Edo-Murasaki.i-9582.s-68577.r-2_da078e7e-4017-4f20-be99-122f64ae1e6f.jpg?v=1791818158"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/collections\/Aster-banner-image.jpg?v=1658851124","url":"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/aster.oembed","provider":"Plant Delights Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}