Aster
Aster spp.
Special Features
Cold-hardy perennials with daisy-like flowers, the pollinator stars of the garden from late summer through fall. Growing 1 to 6 feet tall, these upright flowering plants bear cheerful star-shaped flower heads ranging from purple to…
Plant Specifications
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Growing Aster on Martha's Vineyard
Aster, encompassing the many native New England aster and smooth aster species now classified within Symphyotrichum, brings a critical burst of late-season color to Martha's Vineyard landscapes precisely when most other perennials have finished, extending the garden's visual contribution from late August through October. Native asters perform well in both the well-drained sandy soils of coastal Edgartown and the slightly richer loam of woodland garden settings in West Tisbury, adapting to a remarkably broad range of island conditions.
Most native aster species offer good deer resistance, an important consideration given the island's significant white-tailed deer population throughout the year. Estate Care professionals apply a Chelsea chop in mid-June, cutting stems back by half, to promote bushier growth and prevent the leggy, floppy habit that develops in nutrient-rich soils, ensuring the self-supporting autumn display that makes asters so valuable in the professional island landscape program.
