New-Belgian or Virginian aster

Family Asteraceae. Native to the eastern regions of North America. In cultivation since 1686. Grows widely up to the taiga zone.

A rhizomatous perennial, growing as a shrub of inverse-pyramidal form. Stems 50 to 150 cm high, densely branched in the upper part, glabrous or pubescent depending on the cultivar. Shrubs are densely leaved. Leaves linear-lanceolate with blunt bases, alternate, sessile. Inflorescences large, paniculate, sometimes consisting of up to 200 heads up to 2 cm in diameter. Ray florets numerous, most often lilac. Some cultivars have different colors; in some the ray florets are arranged in several rows completely covering the yellow tubular florets, creating the impression of doubleness. This species, under good soil conditions, blooms very abundantly and for a long time from September. It bears fruit.

New-Belgian aster is planted in sunny sites protected from cold winds. The plants are frost-hardy. It is best to plant them in early May. The soil should be worked to a depth of 20-25 cm. The planting area (spacing) depends on height and bushiness. Low cultivars are planted with spacing of 20 x 25 cm, while tall ones require 40 x 45 cm. Because the aster spreads quickly with a long rhizome, it is replanted every 3-4 years. Besides dividing the clump, it can be propagated by seed and green cuttings, but these methods are more labor-intensive and less effective. Sometimes the aster can be divided without digging up the clump by simply separating one or two parts from the plant with a sharp spade. The remaining hole is filled with fertile soil and watered. Care should ensure loose soil; weeds must be regularly removed, and in dry weather watering with water that is not cold is obligatory. Periodically apply humus and mineral fertilizers.

The most popular species and the richest in cultivars, however susceptible to the typical diseases of asters. In addition, it is demanding of moisture and soil fertility (the English advise adding compost annually in autumn or in spring after cutting the stems). Especially susceptible to powdery mildew, so breeders try to develop cultivars resistant to this disease. Preventive measures mentioned above should be observed. The first most attractive hybrids were obtained in England Ballard @ Amos Perry. These hybrids included the most beautiful, including double forms, but were susceptible to powdery mildew. Georg Arends @ especially, Karl Foerster also produced popular hybrids that were, however, more resistant to diseases.

Inflorescences of New-Belgian aster are widely used as cut flowers for various arrangements and bouquets. In water, cut inflorescences can last 10-15 days if the water is changed regularly and leaves on stems placed in water are removed. Sometimes a silver coin is placed in the water to keep it from going bad. For nourishment one can put a teaspoon of sugar, an aspirin tablet, or a crystal of potassium permanganate in the water. As a decorative flowering plant, the aster is used for varied plantings against a green lawn. Shrub groups and similar plantings can serve as a background. Asters should not be planted together with small perennials, since they will be overwhelmed by the asters. There are many interesting cultivars of this species. Some of them are described below.

'Аметист' ('Amethyst') - Plants up to 100 cm high. Heads semi-double, ray florets in 5-6 rows, dark lilac; tubular florets light yellow. Blooms 30-35 days.
'Баллард' ('Ballatd') - A beautiful, leafy plant up to 100 cm high. Flowers abundantly. Inflorescences 3 cm in diameter. Ray florets bright pink. Used for bouquets and other arrangements. Good for group plantings, beds, singly against a background of shrubs.
'Бичвуд Райвел' ('Beechwood Rival') - Plant up to 70 cm high. Ray florets purplish-red. Blooms 30-35 days.
'Гербст Вундер' ('Herbst Wunder') - Plant reaches 90 cm in height. The shrub is erect, graceful, leafy; blooms in September. Ray florets pure white, tubular florets yellow. Inflorescences small, 2.5 cm in diameter. Blooms 40-45 days. Used for various types of plantings.
'Дик Баллард' ('Dick Ballard') - Plants up to 100 cm high. Inflorescences about 3 cm in diameter. Ray florets pink. Blooms 30-35 days.
'Нанси Баллард' ('Nancy Ballard') - Plant up to 150 cm high, a voluminous bush densely covered with leaves. Inflorescences 3 cm in diameter. Ray florets delicate lilac-pink, very decorative, tubular florets yellow. Blooms in autumn 25-30 days. Used as cut flowers and for various groups, borders, beds, singly, etc.
'Октоберфест' ('Octoberfest') - Plants up to 100 cm high. Heads up to 3.5 cm in diameter, semi-double, ray florets in 6-7 rows, blue. Blooms 30-35 days.
'Плэнти' - A large plant, up to 140 cm high, bushy. Inflorescences numerous, large—up to 4 cm in diameter, very beautiful and numerous. Ray florets deep pink. A valuable cultivar for cutting and garden design. Begins flowering in September.
'Ройял Блю' ('Royal Blue') - Plant 120 cm high, luxuriant, leafy. Inflorescences quite large, 3.5-4 cm in diameter. Ray florets of a rare violet-blue color. Blooms from late summer. Used for bouquets and loose arrangements. Attractive in group plantings, beds, masses, borders, and singly.
'Рут Баллард' ('Rut Ballard') - A graceful plant, 100 cm high. In the upper part the plant is branched. The inflorescence consists of pink ray florets and yellow tubular ones, 3 cm in diameter. Blooms in early autumn. Used for cutting and for decorating various sites, especially beautiful in masses, groups, and singly.
'Сансет' ('Sunset') - A fairly tall, spreading plant, reaching 120 cm. Inflorescences 3 cm in diameter, ray florets in 2-3 rows densely raspberry-colored, very beautiful, covering the whole plant abundantly. Blooms 30-35 days. Very beautiful in bouquets and other arrangements, in vases of various shapes and colors. Very effective in various planting forms, especially large areas.
'Сатурн' ('Saturn') - A spreading plant up to 150 cm high. Ray florets of a shade of delicate blue rare for asters. Inflorescence diameter 4 cm. During mass flowering the plant is completely covered with flowers and looks amazingly beautiful against the green background of shrubs on the lawn. Blooms 25-30 days. An excellent material for cutting and good in beds, borders, groups, and single plantings.
'Сэм Бенхем' ('Sam Benham') - Plant 140 cm high, erect, compact, well leaved. Inflorescences 3.5 cm in diameter, ray florets white; tubular florets yellow. Blooms from mid-September 30-35 days. Ripens seed. Combines well with other perennials that are tall and bloom at the same time as this cultivar.