New England Aster
Aster novae-angliae (Wild Flowers)
New England aster is appropriate for highway landscaping and roadside plantings, prairie restoration, wildlife cover, prairie landscaping and wetland situations.
New England aster is a native perennial forb which grows from 2 ½ to 6.0 feet tall with hairy stems and leaves. The flowers of New England Aster colors vary from pinkish purple to a showy lavender/purple in color, with the central disk being yellow. New England Aster is the showiest of the genus, and stands out on roadside shoulders and ditches from August through late October
New England aster grows in prairie swales, wet meadows, alluvial soils and thickets, low fields in valleys, and moist ground along streams. It ranges from Quebec to Alberta, south to North Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico.
Prepare a clean weed free seedbed by disking and harrowing or using chemical weed control. Firm the seedbed by cultipacking. The seedbed should be firm enough to allow seed to be planted 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep. The seed of New England aster needs cold stratification for maximum germination if seeded in spring or summer (34-40 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-40 days). However, most companies sell only the cleaned, unstratified seed. Unstratified seed will germinate without being stratified, but the germination time frame is extended and blooming may not happen until the plant goes through an entire winter. Planting in Oct. and as long as the soil can be worked but the seeds will not germinate, will naturally stratify the seed over the winter months for blooming the following fall. Use a planter that insures proper seeding depth and good seed and soil contact like a brillion roller that is capable of handling and placing seed in a uniform manner. There are approximately 1,100,000 seeds in a pound of New England aster.
Seeding rates for New England aster:
New England Aster is normally planted at the rate of 1-6 PLS lbs per acre with the varience being budget,
location or usage, and desired final appearance.
Height24-48 Inches
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Spread2-6 Feet
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Interesting NotesNew England Aster is shown by the USDA to be found in all states except Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and all of Canada except Alberta and Saskatchewan provences.
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Characteristics & Attributes
