Aster Species, Alpine Aster, Wild Aster

Asteralpinus

Family
Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Aster (ASS-ter)
Species
alpinus (AL-pin-us)
Synonym
Aster breyninus
Aster chrysocomoides
Aster cylleneus
Aster cylleneus
Aster fallax
Sun Exposure
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
6-12 in. (15-30 cm)
Spacing
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Bloom Color
Pink
Lavender
Dark Purple/Black
White/Near White
Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Alpines and Rock Gardens
Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
5.1 to 5.5 (strongly acidic)
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing the rootball
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Funny River, Alaska

Juneau, Alaska

Knik-Fairview, Alaska

Lakes, Alaska

Meadow Lakes, Alaska

Ridgeway, Alaska

Soldotna, Alaska

Sterling, Alaska

Tanaina, Alaska

Wasilla, Alaska

Parker, Colorado

Ellington, Connecticut

Middlebury, Connecticut

Hampton, Georgia

South Berwick, Maine

Beverly, Massachusetts

Grand Haven, Michigan

Avon, Minnesota

Gallatin Gateway, Montana

Munsonville, New Hampshire

Grove City, Ohio

Xenia, Ohio

MOUNT HOOD PARKDALE, Oregon

Barto, Pennsylvania

Norristown, Pennsylvania

Lafayette, Tennessee

Austin, Texas

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

3
positives
2
neutrals
1
negative
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T
Gallatin Gateway, MT | January 2012 | negative

Here in Montana the plant grows like a weed, invading the lawn and spreading furiously. No way to get rid of it. Looks nice for a while, ...Read More

T
T
somewhere, PA | October 2006 | positive

Lovely little blue flower for the rock garden.

G
(Zone 5a) | May 2006 | positive

I grew this from seed and it is blooming its little heart out! It is doing really well for me, especially considering it is under a gree...Read More

S
(Zone 6a) | March 2006 | neutral

I had one of these plants but it died for an unknown reason last year at flowering time..........It just dried up and died.
It had...Read More

P
Westbrook, ME (Zone 5a) | January 2003 | positive

Alpine asters are great for the rockery or the front of the border. The flowers are quite large compared to the small size of the plants....Read More

M
M
Ewing, KY (Zone 6a) | February 2002 | neutral

A spreading,clump-forming plant with medium-green leaves. The leaves are narrow,lance-shaped about 3-1/2 inches long. The blooms are purp...Read More

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