Scientific Name:
Aster alpinus
Pronunciation:
ASS-tur al-PYE-nuss
Common Name:
alpine aster
Family Name:
Asteraceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Plants up to 30cm tall; leaves oblanceolate to spatulate, 4-11cm long x 1-2.5cm wide (stem leaves mostly 3-5cm long), pubescent, margins entire; flower heads daisy-like, usually solitary, most 3-5cm wide, yellow disk florets and blue-violet ray florets (may also be pink, violet-lavender, dark purple-black, or white-near white depending on cv.).
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Mounded
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
B.C. west of Cascades, Europe, U.S. - northwest
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Attract beneficial insects, Fall interest, Perennial border, Rock garden
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate, Basal
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Shapes:
Oblanceolate, Spatulate
Apices:
Acute, Rounded
Bases:
Attenuate
Margins:
Inflorescence Type:
Head (capitulum)
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Corolla Shape:
Ligulate
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Yellow, Violet, Purple, Pink, Black
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul
Fruit Type:
Cypsela (achene + calyx)
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green, Red, Dark brown
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Mildew, Slugs or snails, Wilt (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Rabbit resistant, Drought tolerant)
