ASTER. Widespread, mostly in the Northern Hemisphere. Colorful perennial daisies of variable scale and habit and, thus, uses in the garden. Most should have sun and reasonably well drained soil and will tolerate some summer drought (though they bloom longer with continued moderate watering). Those listed are hardy to 0oF or below.
alpinus. Rock aster. Our original selection differs from typical A. alpinus in its relatively smooth, shiny leaves and larger, darker flowers (similar to those of the clone ‘Goliath’). This is a tightly matting plant with 4-6" basal leaves. In spring it is decorated by many large daisies of deep lavender with orange centers, held above the foliage on 6-8" stems. We are now pleased to add the variety albus, very similar except for pure white flowers with gold centers.
amellus ‘King George’ is one of the parents of the next selection and in some respects even more attractive, though it is little known in California. It forms dense crowns of hairy, grey green leaves from which branched 2' stems rise in summer, displaying sprays of large lavender flower heads with gold centers.
x frikartii. This is a bushy hybrid, growing about 2’ tall, with fuzzy greyish green leaves. It produces an abundance of 2½" lavender daisies with gold centers from late spring to fall. The traditional favorite was ‘Wonder of Stafa’. However, ‘Monch’ is a somewhat sturdier, bushier plant, and alleged to have slightly darker flowers (I have never had the two side by side at one time for comparison).