Astra perennial alpine planting and care in the open field

What plant to plant in the country so that it is pleasing to the eye and does not require care? Designers recommend perennial Alpine aster. The article contains recommendations for planting and caring for asters planted in open ground. The alpine aster varieties, their features and growing rules are described in detail. You will learn how to combine aster with other plants and apply it in landscape design.

Description: varieties and varieties of alpine asters

Aster is one of the most common colors used in outdoor landscaping in summer cottages. These flowers delight the eye from spring to late autumn.

Unpretentious bright asters delight the eye of flower growers with their simplicity and grace

The first of the aster family to bloom at the end of May is the perennial alpine aster - a spring-summer flowering plant, up to 25-30 cm high. Usually, the exuberant flowering of asters lasts more than three to four weeks. Flower rosettes of Alpine asters of medium size (not exceeding 4-6 cm in diameter), located one by one on the stem. Alpine aster resembles chamomile in shape and arrangement of petals, therefore it is sometimes called alpine chamomile. This flower is great for decorating the foot of an alpine slide, it is frost-resistant.

Aster looks very beautiful next to stones

The variety of colors of the alpine perennial aster contributes to its active use in landscape design. Breeders have bred many varieties of Alpine asters with different colors of flower baskets: there are dark purple, bluish purple, light and dark pink, bright orange flowers.

The most common varieties of alpine asters:

• "Albus" - white low aster, blooms in the first two months of summer, the stems are short (no higher than 15-20 cm), densely covered with leaves;

Variety "Albus"

• "Gloria" - flower rosettes are painted in blue tones, inflorescences do not exceed 3 cm in diameter;

Gloria variety

• "Goliath" is distinguished by light purple flower rosettes about 6 cm in diameter. It blooms for about a month, the beginning of flowering is June;

Variety "Goliath"

• "Rosea" - a pink-colored flower, flower rosettes up to 4 cm in diameter;

Variety "Rosea"

• "Happy End" is distinguished by strong, straight stems, abundantly covered with leaves. Blooms in May, the flowering period is quite long - about a month;

Variety "Happy End"

• "Dunkle Schöne" - a spectacular dark purple aster, inflorescences about 3 cm;

Variety "Dunkle Schöne"

• "Ruber" - an unusual red-pink aster, flower rosettes up to 4 cm;

Variety "Ruber"

• "Superbus" - an aster of lilac-blue tones, flower rosettes about 3.5 cm in diameter.

Variety "Superbus"

Planting a plant

Before planting a plant in open ground, you must choose a suitable location: all perennial asters love a well-lit, sunny place. It is recommended to fertilize the soil before planting asters (phosphate preparations are used), dig up, select all weeds and moisten.

Astra does not need any special care, only watering, loosening and a well-chosen place for planting

It is advisable to add about 200 g of lime to the soil before digging the soil and planting asters (you can replace it with dolomite flour), about 100 g of superphosphate. It should be dug up to a depth of 30 cm.

Attention! Damp, flooded soils are categorically unsuitable for planting asters. In such conditions, the plant becomes infected with powdery mildew and simply dies.

Plant care

Alpine aster is a perennial, unpretentious in care. It is necessary to ensure timely watering of the plant (infrequently, but abundantly) and loosening the soil, weeding. Lack of moisture can lead to the loss of the decorative appearance of flower baskets and their drying out. Before flowering, it is recommended to spud the crop to a height of 5-6 cm, thus accelerating the growth of the root system and its strengthening. During the flowering period, it is necessary to remove dried plants.

Remove weeds from the beds in a timely manner so that they do not interfere with the growth and development of the aster

The flower is frost-resistant, but for frosty winters it is recommended to mulch the perennial with soil or sand, given that the buds of the plant should be covered.

Fertilization and feeding

For a lush flowering, Alpine asters require an alkaline permeable soil containing calcium. As fertilizers for transplanting and pruning plants, phosphorus and potassium-containing preparations should be applied to the soil.

If the aster is planted in soil with a low humus content, it is imperative to fertilize the soil with organic compounds at the rate of about 10 kg of humus per 1 m2. In addition, 20 g of mineral nitrogen fertilizers should be applied to light soils.

Plant propagation

Alpine aster propagation is carried out in two ways: by seeds and by dividing a bush that has been growing for a couple of years.

Aster seeds

Seeds asters are harvested at the end of autumn after flowering, planted in fertilized soil and covered with a film to obtain a greenhouse effect. The received seedlings dive in March-April, after the appearance of the first leaves. Asters grown from seeds bloom in the open field only in the second year. This breeding method is quite laborious, since the seed germination rate is low.

Dividing the aster bush (vegetative method) - a simple and quick method of propagation and planting new areas with flowers. It is necessary to separate part of the bush together with the rhizome in the spring after the beginning of rapid growth, remove weak stems and transplant to a new place.

Advice. Aster can grow in one place for up to 7 years, but in order to renew the bush, maintain lush flowering, it is recommended to replant the culture every three years.

Alpine aster tolerates bush division quite well

Also asters all summer can be propagate by cuttings... The tops of the shoots are suitable for this, their recommended length is about 6 cm. Cuttings should be planted in specially prepared beds with special soil (turf soil, peat, sand in a ratio of 2 parts of land to 1 part of peat and 1 part of sand) in partial shade, covered with agrofiber. Rooting time for cuttings is about 1 month. As cuttings, you can use young shoots up to 15 cm tall, cut into several parts, each of which should have 3 leaves. In August-September, such cuttings can be planted in a permanent place of growth.

Diseases and pests

Alpine perennial aster is ideal for landscaping, resistant to many diseases and pests, unpretentious in cultivation.However, in a damp summer, with improper watering or planting asters in damp waterlogged soil, the likelihood of infection of a perennial with powdery mildew sharply increases.

The disease is transmitted from plant to plant by air. The area of ​​the lesion depends on the density of growth of asters, the presence of moisture on the leaves. In order to prevent this disease, it is recommended to treat the flowers with Topaz twice before flowering. Dilute "Topaz" at the rate of 2 ml of the drug per 10 liters of water.

Powdery mildew control

In the fall, it is recommended to process the alpine aster with copper sulfate (dilute 50 g of the drug in a standard 10-liter bucket of water), after which the plants must be cut off.

Infected shoots should be cut and burned, since the powdery mildew fungus can be on the leaves and stems of the plant throughout the winter, and in the spring, discard new spores and infect the flowers growing nearby.

For the treatment of asters, biofungicides are used:

1. "Topaz".
2. Fitosporin.
3. Alirin and Gamair.

Copper sulfate and its solution for processing plants

There are other ways to protect a plant:

• spraying with an ash solution (dilute 1 kg of wood ash in 10 liters of warm water, leave to infuse for 6-7 days. The drug is applied by spraying the leaf surface three times);
• treatment with a solution of laundry soap and copper sulfate (mix 100 g of laundry soap with 5 g of copper sulfate, process the plants twice).

In addition, in the summer, during the phase of active growth of perennials, it is recommended to carry out three root dressings of asters with stimulants. At the beginning of budding, asters are treated with Energen (the recommended dose is 1 capsule for half a bucket of water). Then, during flowering, you need to give a second dose: use the drug "Agricola for flowering plants" (about 30-35 g per bucket of water). The third time the plant is fed in August with the preparation of potassium sulfate: 30 g per bucket of water.

Alpine aster: combination with other plants

Alpine aster blooms for quite a long time, it is she who can serve as a background for other flowers, gradually replacing each other from spring to autumn.

Asters of different colors can look great on a flower bed.

Border irises, cypress euphorbia, evening primrose, multicolor euphorbia, spotted loosestrife, which are painted in bright yellow, look spectacular against the background of purple asters. The combination of bearded irises and alpine asters looks interesting - by planting blue or lilac varieties next to it, you can create an eye-pleasing composition by playing on a smooth change of halftones.

Astra goes well with:

• violets;
• geraniums;
• stonecrop large;
• stonecrop prominent;
• white dogwood;
• badan;
• Thunberg barberries;
• spiria Japanese.

Alpine aster on a flower bed

Experienced gardeners willingly include Julia's primrose, reed grass, spartina, creeping thyme in a composition with alpine aster. Ornamental cereals are good partners for perennial asters.

Alpine aster in landscape design

Since perennial alpine aster is rather unpretentious in cultivation, it is actively used in landscape design, gardeners and simply lovers of wildlife in flower beds, rock gardens, in the design of flower beds, rocky hills, as a balcony plant.

It is recommended to plant alpine asters in the foreground of shrub plantings, in curbs, to decorate the shores of small garden or summer cottages.

Aster alpine perennial is equally loved by experienced landscape designers and amateur gardeners. It is easy to care for, does not require special watering conditions, but at the same time it pleases with bright colors almost the whole summer, emphasizing the beauty of the surrounding nature. Pay attention to the Alpine aster, and she will thank you with exuberant flowering.

Planting perennial asters: video

Alpine aster: photo

Perennial alpine aster can be an excellent decoration for a summer cottage, garden or balcony. This flower is highly prized for its ease of care. If you want to bloom on your land or balcony alpine aster perennial - planting and care, photos and cultivation features are presented in our article.

The main differences between the alpine aster

Alpine aster is one of the varieties of the genus of herbaceous plants called Asters. This perennial flower is widespread in many countries of the world. The main differences between the alpine aster:
• short stature - up to 35 cm;
• yellow center;
• petals in 2 or 3 rows;
• colors - shades of red and purple, less often white;
• flowering period - all summer.

Outwardly, the flower looks like a chamomile. We present to your attention our photo selection, which presents several varieties of perennial alpine asters.

In the photo there are popular varieties of perennial alpine asters

See also: Tree peony: planting and care in the open field

Planting rules for perennial alpine asters

All perennial asters need an abundance of sunlight. It is necessary to take this fact into account when planning the planting of a flower in open ground. Never plant this plant in a flooded area. It is also worth knowing that asters love phosphate fertilizers. It is better to start care in the form of soil enrichment even before the seedling is planted in the ground. Be sure to carry out activities such as digging the ground (to a depth of 30 cm), removing weeds and watering thoroughly before planting. It is advisable to add lime or dolomite flour to the soil when digging.

In the photo: Alpine aster seeds

Planting seeds of perennial alpine asters

In the southern regions, the seeds of alpine asters are sown directly into open ground in late autumn or spring, sprinkling them with a centimeter layer of humus. Slightly matured seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place. It is important that the seeds are as fresh as possible. You will be able to see colorful flowers, as in the provided photos, only after a year.

In regions with a more severe climate, the seedling method of growing perennial asters is practiced. Purchased soil is quite suitable for planting seeds. The container with the sown seeds is covered with polyethylene and placed in a sunny place. When the leaves appear, the seedlings are carefully dived into separate pots.

This is what the seedlings of perennial asters look like.

Caring for aster seedlings includes infrequent but abundant watering. You can feed the seedlings a little with ash infusion. Drainage is required. From the middle of spring, the seedlings begin to be hardened, and at the end they are planted in open ground.

Reproduction of perennial asters by dividing the bush

This is how you can propagate flowers that grow on your or any other piece of land. Perennial alpine asters must be replanted and divided every 7 years. But many growers note that if you do this more often (for example, once every three years), the splendor of the flowering is better preserved. After digging up the roots, remove all damaged parts and treat the planting material in a disinfectant. Landing in the same place can be carried out only after 5 years.

Dividing the bush - the possibility of breeding perennial asters

Cutting cuttings and rooting them

From the top of the bush, you need to cut a stalk 6 cm long. It is immediately planted in prepared soil, consisting of turf, sand and peat, and covered with agrofibre. Caring for cuttings before rooting involves regular watering. In about a month, they will take root, and they can be transplanted to a permanent place.

How to provide proper care for a perennial aster

As noted at the beginning, perennial alpine aster is an unpretentious plant. But this does not mean that having planted it once, you can completely forget about it, ignoring the elementary rules of care.The plant may not please with the full beauty of its flowering, if it feels an acute lack of moisture, becomes overgrown with weeds, and the earth around it will not regularly loosen. A good way to retain moisture and prevent weed growth is to mulch the soil.

Dried peduncles must be removed immediately so that the plant does not waste energy on it. If the region experiences severe winters, sprinkle the plant with sand or earth in the fall. Organic fertilizers should be periodically applied to soil with a low humus content. Feed your asters with nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus supplements. You can add lime to the top dressing.

Perennial alpine asters are responsive to feeding

Diseases of perennial asters and the fight against them

Asters are often subject to the following diseases:
• Blackleg is a common fungal disease. Blackening and decay of the plant occurs. Control method: Immediately remove the affected shoots and water the soil with an appropriate fungicide.
• Rust - the disease is manifested by swelling and drying of the leaves. Bordeaux liquid helps in the battle.
• Fusarium is a fungal disease of perennial asters, manifested in yellowing and wilting of the plant. All affected parts must be burned. For prevention, it is important to transplant asters to a new place.

"Perennial Alpine Astra - planting and care, photo" - that was the topic of our article. Do not ignore the opportunity to decorate the space around you with such cute and undemanding colors.

On the personal plots of garden floriculture lovers, you can often see luxurious flower beds on which alpine asters are planted. Hunting reproduction of perennials in the open field is justified not only by its lush flowering of the most unimaginable colors, but also by the plant's unpretentious care, as well as high cold resistance. In addition, many varieties of the plant continue to delight the eye with blossoming buds during the summer and until the beginning of autumn, when other flowers are already starting to go into a dormant period.

aster

Description: varieties and varieties of alpine asters

In its natural habitat, alpine aster is found in Europe, Asia and the North American continent. It is a herbaceous plant with erect stems from 10 to 35 cm high. The basal and lower stem leaves have a short petiole, the upper ones are sessile. The shape of the leaf plate is elongated, ovoid.

Alpine aster Albus

The flowering period depends on the variety and can last from May to September. The inflorescence is a basket with tubular flowers and elongated ligulate marginal petals. The diameter of the inflorescence is on average about 5 cm.

Let's get acquainted with the most popular varieties in landscape design:

• Albus is a semi-double variety. Because of the white petals, it is also mistakenly called chamomile. Low-growing plant, up to 20 cm tall. The flowering period is in the first half of summer.
• Gloria - the diameter of the basket does not exceed 3 cm, the marginal petals are saturated blue.
• Dark Beauty - dissolves blue-violet petals in the second half of summer.
• Rosea - flower rosettes up to 4 cm in diameter, petals of a delicate pink color.
• Ruber is a medium-sized variety. The basket is densely covered with petals of a rich crimson hue.

Planting a plant

In many ways, the key to planting success depends on the correctly selected area for the flower bed. Alpine aster loves light, but direct sunlight throughout the day is harmful to the plant. Therefore, a lace penumbra is a suitable place.

Alpine Aster Rosea

The propagation of asters is unacceptable in a draft and in conditions of strong gusts of winds. Care must be taken that there is an obstruction on the leeward side - a fence, wall of a house or other elevation.

An important condition is good soil drainage.If the land on the site does not differ in such qualities, when digging, it is worth adding a little sand to the site under the flower bed. With a heavy wormy soil structure, a drainage layer should be arranged so that water does not stagnate at the plant roots.

The landing technology is as follows:

• The holes in the flowerbed are dug at a distance of 20 cm from each other with a row spacing of 40 cm.
• The depth of planting of aster seedlings in the open field is carried out 2 cm lower than it was in the container.
• After planting the seedlings, grooves are made between the rows to moisten the soil.

You can sow seeds directly into open ground. However, the germination of seeds is difficult to predict and flowers can germinate unevenly, which negatively affects the decorative appearance of the flower bed.

Plant care

Aster can be called an unpretentious plant to care for. But in order for it to bloom in all its glory, you need to adhere to some rules of agricultural technology.

Alpine aster Gloria

First of all, it is necessary to ensure proper watering. Perennial refers to moisture-loving flowers. You need to moisten the soil with an abundant volume of water. But it is not worth it to be frequent with this procedure. The soil should dry out before the next watering.

Important. During the period of heavy rains, additional soil moisture is not carried out.

It is necessary to monitor the condition of the soil. The land needs to be loosened regularly, weed beds from weeds. In advance, before flowering, high hilling of plants is carried out - this stimulates the strengthening of the root system of perennials.

In order to prolong the flowering period, one must not forget to promptly remove drying inflorescences from the bushes. They are left only on those specimens that are intended for collecting seeds.

Aster is a frost-hardy plant. You can leave the perennial to winter in the open field. Preparatory measures are trimming the aboveground part and covering the flower bed with a layer of mulch.

Fertilizing and feeding asters

Fertile lands with a high humus content are suitable for growing asters in the open field. If the land on the personal plot does not meet these requirements, fertilization will help to correct the situation.

Joint planting of alpine asters

Organic matter can be used as fertilizer. To do this, humus is introduced under the digging at the rate of 10 kg per 1 square meter.

Important. Fresh manure must not be used for fertilization - it must be allowed to overheat.

With long-term cultivation of a flower, top dressing is carried out for it. In early spring, when the sprouts appear on the soil surface, mineral fertilizers are used at the rate of 6 g of nitrogen and 4 g of phosphorus and potassium per 1 square meter. You can also use mullein water infusion. During the flowering period, care consists in feeding with a potassium-phosphorus mixture.

Plant propagation

Alpine aster propagation is carried out by sowing seeds through seedlings and dividing the bush. For growing seedlings, sowing begins in March. For this:

1. Seeds are sown indoors in a mixture of sod and deciduous land with a small proportion of sand and peat.
2. The soil is moistened and the container is left in a dark place.
3. A week later, shoots should appear, by this time the box is transferred to a bright place.
4. They start picking when the seedlings have two real leaves.
5. Before planting seedlings in open ground, it is recommended to harden. To do this, she is taken out of the room into fresh air. The first time - for a few minutes, and with each new approach, this time is extended.

Planting seedlings in a flower bed is carried out in mid-May.

Every next year, the perennial takes up more and more space on the flower bed. Therefore, once every 5-7 years, it is necessary to divide the bush and transplant an aster. To carry out this procedure, you need the plant to be dormant. Therefore, the division is carried out in early spring, until the active vegetation process begins.

Diseases and pests

Reproduction is rarely accompanied by the development of diseases.But like many other flowers, in conditions of increased dampness, plantings infect fungal infections. In particular, asters show little resistance to powdery mildew on damp days.

Important. The appearance of a whitish bloom from a fungal infection is caused not only by the vagaries of the weather or the peculiarities of the soil, but also by improper care of the flower bed. So, powdery mildew appears with improper watering of a perennial.

Powdery mildew is a highly contagious disease. The infection spreads quickly and the disease spreads to other flowers. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the affected plant parts. Caring for a flower bed consists in treating with fungicides, as well as correcting the irrigation regime. Topaz, Alirin, Fitosporin are effective drugs in the fight against fungus.

Alpine aster landing in partial shade

There are also folk ways to combat the disease. For this, plantings are sprayed:

• water infusion of wood ash;
• solution of kefir or yogurt;
• a mixture of laundry soap and soda ash, diluted with water.

To prevent powdery mildew, the soil should be treated with copper sulfate - 50 g per 10 liters of water.

Among the pests that parasitize on asters are insects such as caterpillars of the scoop, meadow bug, and drooling pennits. The drug Karbofos helps to repel the attack of pests.

The spider mite spreads rapidly in the garden. He easily moves over long distances, so you need to get rid of the parasite immediately. Fitoverm is used for this purpose.

Naked slugs can cause a lot of problems. They have to be collected from plants by hand, and beer baits are left on the flower beds at night in order to remove parasites that have got there in the morning.

Alpine aster: combination with other plants

Aster will serve as a good outdoor neighbor for many other plants. A large palette of perennial flower tones and a relaxed curtain shape create a harmonious combination in landscape design with various partners:

• The brightness of the alpine aster is favorably emphasized by undersized ground cover plants that do not have expressive flowering - stonecrop, stachis.
• A successful combination is obtained when grown next to the aster of rudbeckia, marigolds.
• Flowers of blue shades near aster plantings are good - muscari, bearded irises, violets.

An interesting solution in landscape design is planting a number of perennials of different budding dates. With prolonged flowering of asters, it will serve as a colorful canvas, against the background of which daffodils, hazel grouses, phloxes will replace each other.

Advice. Beginners in landscape design will not fail if they place chrysanthemums next to asters in the open field. They will pick up the flowering baton from late summer to late autumn.

Alpine aster in landscape design

Alpine aster is an ideal solution in landscape design for decorating an alpine slide. Low-growing varieties will decorate the lowlands with a thick flowering carpet, picturesquely braiding stones at different elevation levels.

Alpine aster in landscape design

Close plantings of varieties of different heights will form neat mixborders. In these types of flower beds, asters go well with other flowers - daylilies, phlox, astilba.

Neat planting of one variety allows you to arrange elegant beds along the house. Also, this culture is suitable for border decoration.

Growing a perennial aster is a very profitable activity. It is enough to sow flowers for seedlings once, so that they will delight with their appearance for many years. Work on the flowerbed will have to be carried out infrequently, and it is very easy to propagate plantings.

Alpine aster: planting and care (video)

The genus of Alpine asters has about 250 species of annuals, biennials, perennial herbaceous plants and shrubs. They are widely distributed in various natural areas of the Northern Hemisphere, especially in North America.Feels great in the Alps, Sayan Mountains, Altai, Caucasus. Plants are suitable for cultivation on alpine slides and curbs.

Asters are divided into spring-, summer-, and autumn-blooming according to flowering periods. Inflorescences are solitary, very attractive, 4-5 cm in diameter, on thin peduncles; widely used for cutting. Some shrub species grow exclusively in South Africa. The name reflects the similarity to the star - numerous rays-petals diverge from the bright yellow center. Outwardly, it resembles a garden chamomile or daisy, hence the second name - alpine chamomile.

The unpretentiousness and modest, long-term decorativeness of the alpine aster favorably distinguishes the perennial counterparts from the annual ones. Having planted one plant, they admire it for more than one year with minimal care and attention.

Botanical description

Alpine aster perennial photo

Alpine aster, Korzhinsky aster, false aster - a close relative of the Chinese or annual aster, one of the perennial representatives of the huge family of asters, has earned the love of many flower growers for several centuries. This is a medium-sized plant up to 35 cm high. In good light, the bush, expanding, takes on a volumetric shape.

From the thickened rhizome erect, pubescent, strongly branched branches. The root is horizontally and branched. The basal leaves are obovate, located on the stems, lanceolate, shallow towards the top, occasionally pubescent without petioles. Plants turn green before winter. The wrapper is hemispherical, consisting of a pair of rows of lanceolate-elongated leaflets. Inflorescence - apical basket up to 6 cm with many reed flowers of various color palette - from whitish to dark ultramarine. Seeds are obovate with a tuft. Blooms from late May to July. They do not lose their attractiveness until the very snow.

The plant has been cultivated since the 16th century, it is actively used in decorating plots by many gardeners and summer residents. In landscape design, it is used for mixborders, curbs, alpine slides and foreground group plantings. It is cultivated in the northernmost regions, enduring long winters without consequences.

Growing alpine asters

Alpine aster perennial planting and care photo

If your flower garden is not shaded, well lit by the sun, the beautiful Alpine aster does not require special care. She needs a well-drained, non-acidic soil, but otherwise they are unpretentious and hardy. During mass flowering, they need abundant watering. Tall species and varieties need moderate feeding. As soon as the cold comes (mid-October and later), cut the stem to the root collar. This operation can be transferred to the spring, combined with the removal of frozen shoots.

If you notice the rhizomes of the alpine aster protruding from the soil, then the plant should be transplanted with a deepening as soon as possible or thoroughly covered with earth, covering the bare areas. Some varieties degenerate quickly and should be divided periodically. The healthiest parts of the rhizome with large shoots and a well-developed root system are used for transplantation. At the beginning of the growing season, they are fed with potassium fertilizer with the addition of calcium, which is used as chalk or finely crushed eggshell.

During the summer, ash is poured under the plants, followed by loosening. Doesn't like fresh manure. It ceases to bloom with an overabundance of unripe organic matter. They hibernate well without shelter, cover only young and recently transplanted specimens with spruce branches, dry moss.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

Reproduction of alpine asters by dividing the bush photo

Propagated mainly by dividing the bush... The best time frame for this operation is May - September. The plots are grown at a distance of about 15 cm from each other. When they develop, they can be planted in open ground.Propagated also by seeds, which quickly lose their germination, are sown in a nursery from April to July or before winter, provoking natural stratification.

Growing alpine asters from seeds

Alpine aster perennial cultivation from seeds

In the middle lane, the Alpine aster can be freely sown simply into the ground, in early April, by covering the bed with a film. The grown seedlings can be transplanted in a month to a permanent place, and by the end of summer, small flowering bushes will have formed. Next year they will be fully developed and will delight with abundant flowering.

At home, seeds are sown in March-April, in bowls, containers filled with a light substrate. It is possible to grow without diving, if you place the seeds at a considerable distance from each other and gradually gently add the soil.

How to grow alpine aster from seed for seedlings at home:

• You can sow at the end of February until the very end of April. Sometimes those who did not have time to plant seeds in the middle of summer.
• The seeds are buried into the substrate by a centimeter and a half, no more.
• Better if you plant a couple of seeds in separate cups. If you are planting in large containers or boxes, make the rows no closer than 8 cm, leave a distance of 5 cm in the row.
• Drainage is required, so make sure the container has holes for water to drain.
• It is better to water in moderation so as not to clog the soil and it does not become too hard.
• An ordinary ready-made substrate for flowers is perfect for planting at home. If it is not at hand, take care of the rotted organic matter by adding a good half of it to the garden soil and stir.
• Choose southerly windows where there is enough light and plants will not stretch out.

They can be transferred to open ground in summer or early autumn. They bloom in 3 years. Varietal characteristics are not always preserved during seed reproduction, this must be taken into account when breeding especially rare specimens.

Alpine aster can be propagated by cuttings

Such reproduction completely duplicates the parent instance. Cuttings are taken from healthy plants. The lower internode is cleaned of leaves, treated with a root or other stimulant, and the top is pinched. You can use succinic acid as a root formation stimulant by lightly dusting the slices with it.

Rooting takes place within two weeks. To accelerate the formation of roots, cuttings in the nursery are covered with foil or glass. Every day they air for 5-10 minutes, raising the shelter. Water as it dries, avoiding waterlogging. In early autumn, they are transplanted to a permanent place at a distance of 15-20 cm.

Diseases and pests of the alpine aster

Alpine blue aster photo

The roots are often affected by black mold, which leads to decay of the root system, the death of the plant. Powdery mildew, called white Asteraceae disease, may appear on the leaves. This happens as a result of the wrong choice of the location of the plant. They treat this scourge with available means.

Of the insects, the most dangerous is aphid, which slows down growth, damaging young stems, sucking out juice from them; from the affected shoots, deformed inflorescences develop, which do not bloom in the future. The danger is posed by snails gnawing young shoots. Snails are disposed of with ash. All this can be avoided by placing the bushes in open, well-lit, ventilated places.

Tar water is used against insects (2-3 tablespoons of birch tar per 10 liters of water), pouring it on plants and watering cans. Good results are obtained by processing with ordinary laundry soap. You can dissolve the soap in tar water, which will increase the effect of the treatment. Dividing the bush involves rejuvenation, this must be done every 3-5 years.It is better not to be zealous with feeding and fertilizing - in the natural conditions of the growth of alpine asters, the soil is usually poor. When overfeeding, the plant may not bloom or become sick.

Popular varieties of alpine asters

Alpine aster White alps

Albus (Albys) - one of the first to bloom, in early June, short stems are covered with small dark green leaves. Flowers are white with a yellow core, semi-double and simple, scattered throughout the spherical bush. Height 12-22 cm. Looks perfect in rockeries, on alpine slides.

Gloria - blue simple flowers do not exceed 3 cm in diameter. Flowering begins at the end of May, June. The bush with emerald lanceolate leaves is decorative until late autumn. Up to 35 cm high. Suitable for low borders, flower beds, rockeries. Unpretentious, stable, responsive to care.

Aster alpine blue Goliath Aster alpinus Goliath

Goliath - semi-double light purple flowers on grassy low bushes of gray-green color. When used as a ground cover plant, it grows rapidly and takes up the space provided. Timely removal of twigs that have lost their decorative effect contributes to long-term flowering.

Aster Lpiyskaya Rosea Pink

Rosea - baskets with a diameter of 6 cm are collected from buds with pink petals, a yellow-greenish center. Height is about 15 - 20 cm. It blooms in July. They form picturesque balls woven with bright flowers. The herbaceous part is bright green. Suitable for compositions near stones.

Alpine aster Happy End Happy End photo

Happy End - a variety with erect strong stems, the earliest flowering. Rose petals adorn the rosette. A little taller than their fellows. Flowering is profuse and prolonged from May to July. A valuable curb plant with dense, compact, spherical shrubs, abundantly covered with pink flowers during flowering. When planted along the paths, it looks spectacular and picturesque. Faded shoots should be removed in a timely manner, thereby prolonging flowering.

Dunkle Chenet is a low, lush aster with deep purple flower petals and a bright yellow center, no more than 3 cm in diameter and 25 cm high. Looks great against the background of faded bushes of peonies and other early-blooming perennials, creating a bright spot against the background of green foliage.

Ruber - amazingly beautiful bloom fascinates the eye. The rich color of the red-pink flowers will decorate any place in your garden. Height up to 30 cm is suitable for single plantings in curtains, as well as for curbs, flower beds, rocky hills. By dropping it along the paths, create a magnificent ensemble with a lawn.

Superbus is an unpretentious, undemanding variety with lilac-blue flowers on delicate bushes. Decorate any place in your garden. Feels good with light shading, decorating the walls of sheds and other outbuildings.

Dark Beauty and Helen Beauty - picturesque curtains of 15 centimeter stems with bright purple flower petals are used as a ground cover plant in places of memory, creating a long-flowering meadow. Set between stones, they look great.

Combining plantings from different varieties, the colors achieve continuous flowering from early spring to late autumn. This is achieved by complementing the alpine varieties with other types of perennial asters - octobrines, september, Italian, Belgian, New England and New Zealand varieties.

Only from these flowers alone, alternating varieties and plant heights, you can create an English mixborder - an indispensable element of European design that will remain decorative throughout the year and will delight its creator and his household with splendor, lush flowering. A mixborder located along the fence, fence or against the background of the building will hide flaws, decorate the territory of the site or garden and add completeness to the landscape composition.Requires a minimum of maintenance effort and cost. Such plantings look organic, they are constantly in bloom, thereby comparing favorably with ordinary flower beds and flower beds.

Healing properties

Alpine aster ground cover photo

The medicinal properties of alpine chamomile are used. Traditional medicine uses flowering tops. They are successfully used for gastrointestinal disorders, treatment of scrofula, tuberculosis. Harvested during the flowering period: cut, laid out in one layer, dried under awnings, avoiding the sun's rays. Decoctions, lotions treat children and adults. The juice is used for various dermatoses.

This unassuming plant has attracted people's attention since ancient times with its modest splendor. Ancient structures are decorated with ornaments, repeating the curves of twigs and sepals. They were found during excavations in ancient tombs and burials. Mentioned in legends and myths about love and fidelity associated with the goddess of love Aphrodite, who personifies divine beauty and unfading youth.

It was believed that these cute ‘stars’ ’appeared in the place of the goddess’s footprints. They were planted in ancient times at the entrances to temples and houses in order to earn the favor of heavenly bodies and gods. People gave them to each other when parting, believing that they help lovers find happiness and meet again.

Many amateur flower growers are chasing impregnable, capricious exotic, not noticing simple, not making great demands and content with little attention to representatives of the flora, which is our modest woman, who, with unobtrusive care, is self-sufficient, respectable in those places where your other chosen ones will wither and die ...

Often driving past abandoned areas, you can spot a flowering bush of alpine asters under thickets of raspberries or currants. What kind of care can we talk about in this case, and the plant is alive, growing, blooming. It is worth adding a little attention and care to it, and it will thank you with a gentle long flowering. Not many plants have such properties and an exceptional thirst for life.

The plant is perfect for those summer residents, they just prefer to relax in the country or in their personal plot, without bothering to take care of the plants. Alpine chamomile will always thank everyone with its cheerful stars. Of course, in this case, you need to pay attention to more unpretentious varieties.

Alpine aster is another magnificent creation of Mother Nature, pleasing us with its flowering, discreet beauty, captivating with its unpretentiousness, endurance, and charm. Growing it will not be difficult, even for novice florists.