Perennial alpine aster: description of varieties and care features. Alpine aster (perennial): growing from seeds - from seed to flowering

Perennial flowers with their greenery are among the first to delight gardeners in the spring. At the end of May, the charming alpine aster begins to bloom. On low bushes many daisy inflorescences open. It is this plant with a bright yellow center that resembles a flower from the Asteraceae family.

Varietal diversity and modest charm have made this flower popular, and the compactness of the plant allows designers to use it in many compositions.

What care is needed and how decorative perennials reproduce. Where to plant an alpine aster so that flowering lasts for a long time and the color is rich and bright.

The flower grows in the temperate climate of the northern hemisphere; its usual habitat is plains and high-mountain meadows.

The height of the bush is from 15 to 35 centimeters, the stems are pubescent, erect. The plant is highly branched, elongated leaves are located directly on the shoot. The underground part is represented by an overgrown horizontally oriented root system.

The leaves are found in abundance in the lower part of the plant, becoming small and sparse towards the top. With its entire appearance - the yellow center (these are tubular petals), the arrangement of the reed petals, the aster resembles a daisy. The diameter of flower baskets reaches 6 centimeters, but more often 3-4 cm.

Flowering begins early, in late May - early June and lasts 30 days. Until winter, the plant does not lose its attractiveness and disappears into winter along with its green leaves. Beautiful unpretentious perennial winters well without shelter in northern latitudes.

Alpine chamomile, like garden plant, known for more than 5 centuries. During this time, many varietal varieties were bred and the flowers were enlarged. The colors are the most varied: pink, white, lilac and purple, blue and dark blue. Only the yellow core remains unchanged.

Landscape designers tastefully decorate with decorative squat bushes local areas and park areas. Due to the fact that the flower grows quickly, it eventually forms covers that have a very lush appearance.

On the domestic map there are several territories where the alpine perennial aster is recognized as a rare and endangered species. She is also medicinal plant, helps with some ailments.

Varieties

The flowers are blue, 3 centimeters in diameter. The bush is low, only 20 cm.

Large pale purple flower heads distinguish this species.

A low-growing bush up to 20 centimeters has white flowers. Characterized by lush flowering and a large number of green leaves.

The color of this variety is blue with a terry sunny center. The flowers are large, sometimes up to 8 centimeters, and the bush itself is relatively tall - it can grow up to half a meter. Blooms for a long time.

Bright pink flowers up to 4 cm in reach. It grows rapidly, forming rounded caps.

Aster of this variety has a dark purple color of small inflorescences. Spectacular combination This works if you place plant species with contrasting colors nearby.

Pink daisies on strong branchy bushes attract the eye. This varietal species is very common in garden compositions.

Lilac flower baskets are 3.5-4 centimeters in diameter.

Rich pink-red hue and medium-sized flowers and bushes.

In addition to individual varieties, perennial mixtures look interesting. Complementing and shading each other, differently colored flowers create a truly magnificent sight.

Planting and propagation

Aster of this species is planted different ways: V open ground seeds, seedlings, propagated by dividing the bush and cuttings.

Seeds in open ground

You can sow in early spring(late April) either in summer or autumn. A cold-resistant plant germinates well, provided that the seed material is not old.

When collecting your seeds from faded baskets, you must remember that varietal characteristics may not be transferred to a new bush.

Make furrows in the garden bed and direct sowing, plant the seeds, water and cover with film. In such a greenhouse they will quickly hatch. After the seedlings show 2-3 leaves, they can be planted in the right place.

Perennials usually bloom in the second year if they are planted in summer or autumn. But those planted in April may produce little flowering this year.

We sow seedlings

In February or early March, alpine aster is sown at home.

• Equip containers with drainage holes;
• The soil should be light, fertile, it is better if the soil is from a special store;
• The seeds are not buried, but laid out on a damp surface and lightly sprinkled with earth;
• Spray from a spray bottle and cover with film;
• Dive when 2-4 true leaves appear;
• In May, the seedlings are gradually accustomed to the coolness, taken out to the veranda or other room;
• At the beginning of June we plant the seedlings in the ground outside;
• Planting is done in dug up beds with loose, drained soil;
• Planting scheme for low-growing and medium-growing perennials 30-50 centimeters between specimens.

Alpine aster can grow in one place for a long time, but it does not reproduce by self-sowing. To renew plantings and obtain new bushes, division of the root system is used.

A plant (three years old or more) is dug up in the fall after flowering or in the spring. A part of the root is separated along with the upper stems. Transplant into a prepared place, maintaining the required distance.

With this method of propagation, the plant retains all the signs of the mother bush. This procedure is carried out every 3-4 years.

Cuttings

This method of propagating alpine chamomile is also available, while the characteristics of the parent plant are fully preserved. The procedure is performed in the summer.

• Cut off the tops of young shoots, the recommended cutting height is 5-6 centimeters;
• Make sure that there are three leaves left on it;
• We bury the cuttings into the prepared loose substrate, moisten them and place them in partial shade;
• Cover the planting with a fiber cover;
• After a month, roots appear;
• Now the plant can be planted on permanent place outside.

Care

The perennial aster does not require careful supervision. You need to water moderately, making sure that the water does not stagnate. During flowering, the soil should be moistened more.

Attention! If the place chosen is sunny and open, the flower will delight you with abundant development and stable flowering. In the shade it may not bloom at all; this should be taken into account when choosing a place for planting.

It prefers water- and breathable, light soil. When the roots are exposed, they need to be sprinkled or the bush should be replanted, deepening it to the required depth.

The plant can degenerate and become a little smaller. Regular transplantation and renewal will help prevent such developments.

What is sick?

In very humid weather or if the location of the flower is chosen incorrectly, the roots rot and black mold appears. Powdery mildew forms on the leaves. The affected parts of the plant are thrown away, and the rest is sprayed and treated antifungal drugs, as well as Bordeaux liquid mixture.

Attacks aster and aphids. The leaves captured by it are not able to grow well, and flowers cease to form. They simply do not have enough strength for this - aphids suck the juices from the shoots.

Helps against all insect pests (slugs, caterpillars, mites) effective methods– spraying with ash or soap solution, you can use a mixture of them. You can also dust the space under the flower with wood ash.

Place in landscape design

Alpine aster blooms for a long time and goes well with many plants and shrubs. This is a kind of background that can be supplemented with anything.

Flowers, having similar colors, but having different shapes, are very harmonious with this modest flower: border bearded irises, violets, bergenia, geraniums.

Multi-colored flower arrangements also benefit visually. You can plant yellow loosestrife and multi-flowered euphorbia, and sedum prominently next to the alpine perennial.

Shrubs such as white and variegated dogwood, Thunberg barberry, and Japanese spirea will be good neighbors for the small, simple aster.

Thyme and different types ornamental grasses should be combined in plantings with all varieties of this species.

Since flowering is early, it will be great to combine plantings of low perennials with other types of asters (middle and late) - September, October, Belgian and other varieties.

The beauty of the Alpine aster can be appreciated both in single and group plantings. This is a magnificent border, ground cover plant.

• Flower beds of all types: ridges, rock gardens and rockeries, mixborders;
• Like a balcony and potted plant for landscaping terraces, verandas, gazebos;
• Decoration of the banks of small artificial reservoirs;
• Rocky Japanese gardens.

Vigorous lush flowering, combined with unpretentiousness in maintenance, simply obliges you to acquire this plant. A unique, delicate flowering bush will be a favorite of the garden - it will be one of the first to bloom, will require a minimum of attention, and its lush forms will become the highlight of your site.

The genus of alpine asters includes about 250 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbaceous plants and semi-shrubs. Widely distributed in various natural zones of the Northern Hemisphere, especially in North America. Feels great in the Alps, Sayan Mountains, Altai, and Caucasus. Plants are suitable for growing on alpine hills and for borders.

According to the timing of flowering, asters are divided into spring-, summer-, and autumn-blooming. The inflorescences are single, 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 resemblance to a star - numerous rays-petals radiate from the bright yellow center. Outwardly it resembles a garden chamomile or daisy, hence the second name - alpine chamomile.

The unpretentiousness and modest, long-lasting decorative nature of the alpine aster distinguishes its perennial counterparts from its annual counterparts. Having planted one plant, they admire it for many years with minimal care and attention.

Botanical description

Alpine aster, Korzhinsky aster, false aster - a close relative or annual, one of the perennial representatives huge family asters has earned the love of many gardeners over several centuries. This is a medium-sized plant up to 35 cm high. good lighting The bush, growing, takes on a voluminous shape.

Erect, pubescent, highly branched branches emerge from the thickened rhizome. The root is horizontal and branchy. The basal leaves are obovate, located on the stems - lanceolate, smaller towards the apex, occasionally pubescent without petioles. Before winter, the plants turn green. The involucre is hemispherical, consisting of a pair of rows of lanceolate-elongated leaflets. Inflorescence - apical basket up to 6 cm with many reed flowers of different color palette– from whitish to dark ultramarine. The seeds are obovate with a tuft. Blooms from late May to July. They do not lose their attractiveness until the snow.

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

Growing Alpine Aster

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

If you notice the rhizomes of an alpine aster protruding from the soil, you should replant the plant as quickly as possible with a deep root or carefully cover it with soil, covering the exposed areas. Some varieties degenerate quickly and must be divided periodically. For replanting, use the healthiest parts of the rhizome with large shoots and a well-developed root system. 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 eggshells.

During the summer, ash is poured under the plants, followed by loosening. Doesn't like fresh manure. Stops blooming when there is an excess of unrotted organic matter. They overwinter well without shelter, covering only young and recently transplanted specimens with spruce branches and dry moss.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

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

Growing alpine aster from seeds

IN middle lane Alpine aster can be freely sown simply in the ground, in early April, covering the bed with 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 already formed. Next year they will be fully developed and will delight you with abundant flowering.

At home, seeds are sown in March-April, in bowls or containers filled with 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 soil.

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

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

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

Alpine aster can be propagated by cuttings

Such reproduction completely duplicates the parent specimen. Cuttings are taken from healthy plants. The lower internode is cleared of leaves, treated with root or other stimulant, and the top is pinched. Can be used succinic acid as a stimulator of root formation, lightly powdering the sections with it.

Rooting occurs within two weeks. To speed up the formation of roots, the cuttings in the nursery are covered with film or glass. Every day they ventilate for 5-10 minutes, raising the shelter. Water as soon as it dries out, avoiding overwatering. In early autumn, transplant to a permanent place at a distance of 15-20 cm.

Diseases and pests of alpine aster

Roots are often affected black mold, which leads to rotting of the root system and death of the plant. Powdery mildew, called white asteraceae disease, may appear on the leaves. This occurs as a result of the wrong choice of plant location. Treat this scourge with available means.

Of the insects, the most dangerous is aphids, which slow down growth by damaging young stems and sucking the juice out of them; Deformed inflorescences develop from the affected shoots, which subsequently do not bloom. The danger comes from snails gnawing on young shoots. Get rid of snails using 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), watering plants and watering cans with it. Good results treatment with ordinary laundry soap gives. You can dissolve 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 overdo it with fertilizing and fertilizing - in the natural growing conditions of alpine asters, the soil is usually poor. If overfed, the plant may not bloom or become sick.

Popular varieties of alpine aster

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

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

Goliath - semi-double light purple flowers on low grassy bushes of gray-green color. When used as a ground cover plant, it grows quickly and occupies the area provided to it. Timely removal of branches that have lost their decorative properties promotes long-term flowering.

Rosea - baskets with a diameter of 6 cm are collected from buds with pink petals and a yellow-greenish center. Height is about 15 – 20 cm. Blooms in July. Form balls woven bright flowers. The herbaceous part is bright green. Suitable for compositions near stones.

Happy End is a variety with erect, strong stems, the earliest flowering. Pink petals decorate the rosette. Slightly taller than his brothers. Flowering is abundant and long lasting from May to July. A valuable border plant with dense, compact, spherical bushes abundantly covered pink flowers during flowering. When planted along paths, it looks impressive and picturesque. Faded shoots should be removed in a timely manner, thereby prolonging flowering.

Dunkle Shenet is a low, lush aster with deep purple flower petals and a bright yellow center, does not exceed 3 cm in diameter and 25 cm in height. Looks great against the background of faded peony bushes and other early-blooming perennials, creating a bright spot against the background of green foliage.

Ruber - amazingly beautiful flowering captivates the eye. The rich colors of red-pink flowers will decorate any place in your garden. A height of up to 30 cm is suitable for single plantings in clumps, as well as for borders, flower beds, and rocky hills. By planting it along the paths, you will create a magnificent ensemble with the lawn.

Superbus is unpretentious, with lilac-blue flowers on openwork-plastic bushes. Will decorate any place in your garden. It does well in light shade, decorating the walls of barns 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 clearing. Planted between stones, they look excellent.

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

Only from these flowers alone, alternating varieties and heights of plants, you can create an English mixborder - an essential element of European design, which will remain decorative throughout the year and will delight its creator and his household with splendor and lush flowering. A mixed border located along a fence, fence or against the background of a building will hide imperfections, decorate the territory of the site or garden and give completeness landscape composition. Requires minimal maintenance effort and costs. Such plantings look organic, they are constantly in bloom, thereby differing favorably from ordinary flower beds and flower beds.

Medicinal properties

Are used medicinal properties alpine chamomile. ethnoscience applies 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 canopies, avoiding sunlight. Children and adults are treated with decoctions and lotions. The juice is used for various dermatoses.

Since ancient times, this unassuming plant has attracted people's attention with its modest splendor. Ancient structures are decorated with ornaments that follow 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, personifying divine beauty and unfading youth.

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

Many amateur flower growers are chasing unapproachable, capricious exotics, not noticing simple representatives of the flora that do not make great demands and are content with little attention, which is our modest one, which, 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 notice flowering bush alpine aster under thickets of raspberries or currants. What kind of care can we talk about in this case, but the plant is alive, growing, blooming. It’s worth adding a little attention and care to it, and it will reward you with gentle, long-lasting flowering. Not many have such properties and an exceptional thirst for life.

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

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

The perennial alpine aster can be an excellent decoration for a garden or balcony. This flower is highly valued for its ease of care. If you want it on your plot of land or the balcony blossomed perennial alpine aster- 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 height - up to 35 cm;
yellow center;
petals in 2 or 3 rows;
colors - shades of red and purple, less often white;
The flowering period is all summer.

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

In the photo are popular varieties of perennial alpine aster

Rules for planting perennial alpine aster

All perennial asters need plenty of sunlight. It is necessary to take this fact into account when planning to plant 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. Before planting, be sure to carry out such activities as digging up the soil (to a depth of 30 cm), removing weeds and thoroughly watering. It is advisable to add lime or dolomite flour to the soil when digging.

Planting seeds of perennial alpine aster

In the southern regions, alpine aster seeds are sown directly into open ground late autumn or in the spring, sprinkling them with a centimeter layer of humus. Slightly stronger 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 photos provided, only after a year.

In regions with harsher climates, 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 dropped into separate pots.

This is what perennial aster seedlings look like

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

Reproduction of perennial aster by dividing the bush

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

Cutting cuttings and rooting them

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

How to provide proper care for perennial aster

As noted at the beginning, the perennial alpine aster is unpretentious plant. But this does not mean that once you plant it, you can completely forget about it, ignoring the basic rules of care. The plant may not please you with the full beauty of its flowering if it experiences an acute lack of moisture, is overgrown with weeds, and the ground around is not regularly loosened. Good way retain moisture and prevent the formation of weed thickets - mulching the soil.

Dried flower stalks must be removed immediately so that the plant does not waste energy on them. If the region experiences severe winters, sprinkle the plant with sand or soil in the fall. In soil with low humus content, it should be periodically added organic fertilizers. Feed asters with preparations containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. You can add lime to the fertilizer.

Diseases of perennial aster and the fight against them

Asters are often subject to the following diseases:
Blackleg- common fungal disease. Blackening and rotting of the plant occurs. Control method: immediately remove affected shoots and water the soil with an appropriate fungicide.
Rust- the disease is manifested by swelling and drying of leaves. Bordeaux mixture helps in the battle.
Fusarium- 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 location.

What plant should I plant in my dacha so that it is pleasing to the eye and does not require any effort to care for? Designers recommend perennial alpine aster. The article outlines recommendations for planting and caring for asters planted in open ground. Alpine aster varieties, their characteristics and cultivation rules are described in detail. You will learn how to combine aster with other plants and use it in landscape design.

Description: varieties and varieties of alpine aster

Aster is one of the most common flowers used in landscape design in open ground, on summer cottages. These flowers delight the eye from spring to late autumn.

Unpretentious bright asters delight the eye of gardeners 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. Typically, the lush flowering of asters lasts more than three to four weeks. Alpine aster flower rosettes are medium in size (do not exceed 4-6 cm in diameter), located one per stem. The shape and arrangement of the petals of the alpine aster resembles a chamomile, which is why it is sometimes called alpine chamomile. This flower is great for decorating a footstool. alpine slide, frost-resistant.

The aster looks very beautiful next to the stones

Diversity color range alpine perennial aster contributes to its active use in landscape design. Breeders have developed many varieties of alpine aster with different colors flower baskets: there are dark purple, bluish-violet, light and dark pink, bright orange flowers.

The most common varieties of alpine aster:

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

Variety "Albus"

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

Variety "Gloria"

• "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 flower, flower rosettes up to 4 cm in diameter;

Variety "Rosea"

• "Happy End" is distinguished by strong, straight stems, abundantly covered with leaves. It 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 aster of a red-pink hue, flower rosettes up to 4 cm;

Variety "Ruber"

• “Superbus” is 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 suitable location: All perennial asters love a well-lit, sunny place. Before planting asters, it is recommended to fertilize the soil (phosphate preparations are used), dig it up, pick out all the weeds and moisten it.

Aster does not need any special care, just 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 the aster (can be replaced dolomite flour), about 100 g of superphosphate. You should dig to a depth of 30 cm.

Attention! Damp, flooded soils are absolutely not suitable for planting asters. Under such conditions, the plant becomes infected powdery mildew and just dies.

Plant care

Alpine aster is a perennial, easy to care for. It is necessary to ensure timely watering of the plant (infrequently, but plentifully) and loosening the soil, weeding. Lack of moisture can lead to loss decorative look flower baskets and their drying out. Before flowering, it is recommended to hill 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 flower 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, taking into account that the plant buds must be covered.

Fertilizer and feeding

For lush flowering Alpine aster requires alkaline, permeable soil containing calcium. Phosphorus- and potassium-containing preparations should be added to the soil as fertilizers when replanting and pruning plants.

If an aster is planted in soil with a low humus content, it is necessary 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 added to light soils.

Plant propagation

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

Aster seeds

Seeds Asters are collected in late autumn after flowering has ended, planted in fertilized soil and covered with film to obtain a greenhouse effect. The resulting seedlings germinate in March-April, after the first leaves appear. Asters grown from seeds bloom in open ground only in the second year. This propagation method is quite labor-intensive, since seed germination is low.

Dividing an aster bush(vegetative method) – simple and quick method propagation and planting of new areas with flowers. It is necessary to separate part of the bush along with the rhizome in the spring after rapid growth begins, remove weak stems and replant it in a new place.

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

Alpine aster tolerates bush division quite well

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

Diseases and pests

The alpine perennial aster is ideal for creating landscape design, is resistant to many diseases and pests, and is unpretentious in cultivation. However, in damp summers, if asters are improperly watered or planted in damp, waterlogged soil, the likelihood of the perennial becoming infected with powdery mildew increases sharply.

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

Powdery mildew control agent

Infected shoots should be cut and burned, as the powdery mildew fungus can remain on the leaves and stems of the plant all winter, and in the spring it will release new spores and infect nearby flowers.

Biofungicides are used to treat asters:

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

Copper sulfate and its solution for treating plants

There are other ways to protect the plant:

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

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

Alpine aster: combination with other plants

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

Asters of different colors can look great in a flowerbed.

Border irises, cypress spurge, evening primrose, multicolored spurge, and dotted loosestrife, which are painted in bright yellow, look impressive against the background of purple asters. The combination looks interesting bearded irises and alpine asters - by planting blue or lilac varieties nearby, you can create a composition that is pleasing to the eye, playing on a smooth change of halftones.

Astra goes well with:

• violets;
• geraniums;
• large sedum;
• prominent sedum;
• white woodwood;
• incense;
• Thunberg barberries;
• Spiria japonica.

Alpine aster in a flowerbed

Experienced gardeners willingly include in the composition with alpine aster primrose Julia, reed grass, spartina, creeping thyme. Successful partners for perennial aster are ornamental grasses.

Alpine aster in landscape design

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

The perennial alpine aster is equally loved by experienced landscape designers and amateur gardeners. It is easy to maintain and does not require special conditions watering, but at the same time the whole summer is pleasing bright colors, emphasizing the beauty of the surrounding nature. Give your attention to the alpine aster, and it will reward you with lush flowering.

Planting perennial asters: video

Alpine aster: photo

Good day everyone!

The last article was about the annual aster - the beauty of the autumn garden. I can’t stop and will continue the story about asters. Today the heroine of the article is Perennial Alpine Astra: growing from seeds. It blooms unusually early for an aster - in May-June, about a month. The flowers are small, about 5 cm in diameter, reminiscent of simple multi-colored daisies. Typically, alpine aster bushes are low - 25-30 cm, the colors of the flowers are very different: lilac, pink, blue, white, crimson.

They grow well in lush bushes and look great on hills, rockeries, as a border, and in single plantings or in small groups. For lush flowering, you need to pinch shoots and remove fading flowers.

How to grow alpine aster from seeds

Choosing a place to plant perennial aster

The site for planting aster must be chosen carefully, since it can grow in one place for up to five years. But it is not afraid of transplantation; it can be replanted in spring or autumn, and at the same time propagated by dividing the bush.

The alpine aster prefers sunny places, but can grow in partial shade. You won't get compact ones in the shade fluffy bushes, the shoots will stretch out, and the flowering will be much more modest. Aster does not like damp places, stagnant water in spring and after rains. The roots may rot.

Seedlings or sowing in open ground

Alpine aster reproduces by seeds or by dividing an adult bush. Seeds can be sown directly in open ground. Seeds are sown on the prepared bed; there is no need to deepen it, just sprinkle 1 cm of humus on top. Seeds are sown in the ground in May or before winter - in November-December in frozen ground. The seedlings are planted in a permanent place. Asters bloom from seeds in the second year.

This method is well suited for the southern regions. In the Urals and northern regions, seedlings are usually grown at home. Planted in early June, after the last frost.

The seeds are prepared for planting because they are more difficult to germinate in the alpine aster than in the common aster. , soaked. Alpine aster seedlings are sown and grown at home in the same way as ordinary annual aster. I first sow in small containers, and then plant them in smaller cassettes or boxes before planting them in the ground.

You can read more about sowing aster seeds in the article “”.

Before planting in the front garden, be sure to harden off your houseplants. In April, start taking them outside and let them get used to it. Seedlings should be planted in the evening and be sure to water well.

Propagation of alpine aster by seeds: video

Care

Astra loves water, but does not like too much of it. That's how you want it, spin it. On hot days, I water the asters every morning. A lot depends on the right location. I repeat that water should not be allowed to stagnate at the roots. This means that the soil must be loose and allow water to pass through well. And fertile, of course, because alpine asters grow for several years in one place. Asters also do not like acidic soils; you need to prepare alkaline soil for the area with asters.

When the plants get older, they won’t need such frequent watering, and as they grow, they cover the ground. But it’s better not to leave the soil bare, but to mulch the plantings right away.

You can feed young asters with organic matter, mullein infusion. Twice in the first half of summer. By autumn, the bushes need to prepare for winter; they do not require nitrogen for rapid growth. In the fall, you can water it with infusion of ash.

If young asters have gained color in the fall of the first year, it is better to cut off the buds without allowing them to bloom, otherwise the plants will not survive the winter well and will bloom later next year.

In the spring, adult plants are watered with fertilizers with potassium, the same infusion of ash. For good flowering. To prolong flowering, fading flowers are cut off. Sometimes during a long, warm autumn, asters bloom again in the fall. But it is better to cut such flowers so as not to weaken the plant before winter.

All summer after flowering, alpine aster bushes remain decorative. After flowering, they grow in lush, dark green clumps.

If you want to collect your seeds from them, do not remove all the flowers. Leave the first few. The seeds will ripen in late July - August.

After five years, the plants need to be transplanted to a new location. Preferably in the fall. At the same time, they can be divided and multiplied. Try not to damage the roots when replanting. Alpine asters should not be left in one place for a long time. As the bushes thicken, they will bloom worse and suppress each other.

Under the snow, asters disappear green; branches with leaves do not die off in the fall. If they still dry out, then you need to prune them for the winter. There is no need to cover them; they winter well in the middle zone and the Urals.

If you have severe frosts without snow in the fall, you can cover the base of the bushes with earth or sand so that the buds do not freeze. New buds of alpine aster form on last year's shoots.

In spring, it is necessary to ensure that snow and melt water do not stagnate on plantings of perennial asters. Green bushes can dry out from excess moisture.

Adult plants are not afraid of cold weather. And in the first year it is better to cover young seedlings for the winter with the same sand, or spruce branches, dry leaves, dried flowers. In spring, the shelter is removed.

Diseases and pests do not damage the alpine aster. But when grown in a shady place, it can develop powdery mildew. The fix is ​​simple: transplant the bush to a sunny place and treat it with a biofungicide, for example, phytosporin.