Growing Plants With Asters: A Guide To Aster Companion Plants

Asters are a gardener’s fall delight, blooming in August or September here in the U.S. These small, star-shaped flowers come in a variety of colors and are easy to grow perennials. To maximize the effect of your autumn garden, be sure you know the best plants to grow with asters as companions.

About Companions for Asters

There are several varieties of aster that you may have in your perennial beds: New England, aromatic, smooth, purple dome, New York, East Indies, calico, and others. All of these are characterized by fall blooms in colors ranging from white to purple to vibrant blue. They grow 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm.) tall and produce daisy-like flowers. Asters are showy, but they look best with the right companion plants to highlight their colorful abundance of blooms. It’s important to consider growing conditions when choosing aster companion plants, as well as the height and spread of the asters; choose plants of the wrong size and they may get overshadowed by your asters.

Good Aster Plant Neighbors

For growing plants with asters, you can use trial and error, or you can rely on these options which have been proven by gardeners before you to be excellent companions: Bluestem goldenrod. This perennial flower may not be for you if you’re allergic to goldenrod, but if not, it makes a pretty contrast with pink, blue, and purple asters. Zinnia. Zinnia is related to asters and with the right choice of color it makes a great companion for them. ‘Profusion Orange’ zinnia is particularly pretty with lavender and blue asters. Black-eyed Susan. This pretty yellow flower blooms throughout the summer and should continue to bloom with your asters. Black-eyed Susan has a height that matches aster and together the two provide a good mix of colors. Ornamental grasses. A little greenery also makes for great aster companion plants. Ornamental grasses come in a wide variety of shades of green and yellow, heights, widths, and other characteristics. Choose one that won’t overgrow the asters, but that will blend with them and add more visual interest. Hardy mums. With the same late-blooming schedule and similar growing conditions, mums and asters are natural companions. Choose colors to complement each other and create variety. Growing plants with asters is a great way to ensure that your garden color carries on into the fall. Some other good choices for companions include:

• Sunflowers
• Flowering spurge
• Prairie cinquefoil
• Coneflower
• Big bluestem