Bushy Aster Care – Learn How To Grow Bushy Aster Plants

More and more, American gardeners are turning to native wildflowers to provide easy-care beauty in the backyard. One you might want to consider is bushy aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum) for pretty, daisy-like flowers. If you don’t know much about bushy aster plants, read on for additional information. We’ll also provide some tips on how to grow bushy aster in your own garden.

Bushy Aster Information

Bushy aster, also called American aster, is a native wildflower. It grows in the wild in New England down through the Southeast. You’ll find it on the coastal plains, as well as in woodlands, grasslands, meadows, and fields. In some states, like Alabama, bushy aster plants are most often seen growing in wetlands, like bogs and swamps. They can also be found on riverbanks and beside streams. According to bushy aster information, the shrubs grow to about 3 feet (1 m.) tall and are vigorous and attractive when blooming. Bushy aster flowers consist of strap-shaped petals growing around a central disk and look something like small daisies. These plants can grow white or lavender flowers.

How to Grow Bushy Aster

If you are thinking of growing bushy aster, you shouldn’t have much trouble. These native aster plants are often grown as garden ornamental for their interesting foliage and small flowers. The plants are sun lovers. They prefer a site where they get a full day of direct sun. They also like moist, well-draining soil where they spread quickly thanks to their vigorous, woody rhizomes. Growing bushy aster plants in your backyard is not difficult. You’ll end up with flowers from summer through fall, and bushy aster flowers attract pollinators like bees. On the other hand, when the plants are not in bloom, they are less attractive and can look weedy. One way to combat this is to try growing bushy aster dwarf cultivars. These thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. The cultivar 'Woods Blue' produces blue flowers on short stems, while ‘Woods Pink' and 'Woods Purple' offer compact bushy aster flowers in pink and purple on stems to 18 inches (0.5 m.) tall.