Bluish aster

Family Asteraceae. Native to the Western Himalayas.

Perennial herbaceous plant with creeping underground rhizomes. Stems up to 120 cm tall. The clump is large and vigorous, stems strong, erect. Leaves green, alternate, lanceolate, rather large, pubescent. Inflorescences solitary, about 3.5 cm in diameter; ray florets lilac or bluish, tubular - yellow. Blooms in June-July. Sets fruit. In cultivation since 1901.

The plant is frost-hardy and sun-loving. Soils should be fertile. Bluish aster spreads strongly and can "smother" neighboring low-growing perennials of other species. Planting area 40 x 40 cm. Asters are planted in spring, before May 5th, or in autumn, around September. The bluish aster, flowering in autumn, is used for making bouquets and other arrangements. As a planting material it is used as a specimen plant, in small and large groups, and in flower borders.