Just when you think there’s nothing to look forward to in the garden this fall, asters burst on the scene with cool blue and silvery pink flowers. While a few species do bloom willingly earlier in the summer, the easiest asters to grow save their fireworks for autumn. The starry blue or pink blossoms with yellow centers are so numerous that they often hide the leaves entirely. And a few stems won’t be missed if you bring them indoors to admire in a vase of water.
To ensure fall blooming, make sure to plant seeds in late spring after the last frost. Aster seeds are fragile, so take care that there is no danger of late frost prior to planting the seeds. Make sure to plant in a well-drained area with complete sunlight.
Asters often bloom in tandem with chrysanthemums, but this partnership works best with compact aster varieties that match the mums in terms of plant form and stature. Taller asters usually require staking, and are thus the beloved fence plants suited to tying to posts or open rails. Goldenrod and sneezeweed are always welcome company for fall-blooming asters, as are the last of the marigolds and rudbeckias that manage one final autumn flush of flowering.
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Brilliant pink asters save their blooms for late fall.
