It's a fungal problem. I remember doing some research on this once before and the recommendation was to spray with some sort of fungicide, but I don't remember what kind.

The last few years my Purple Dome always had it on the lower half of the plant. I never did anything about it because it wasn't that bad. This spring I divided the heck out of that plant and noticed the fungus hasn't appeared this year. Maybe overcrowding of the stems contributes to the problem?

Kevin

Thanks Kevin, I was thinking it was fungal or mildew or something, but I'm organic and I wouldn't use a fungicide. I just moved one of those plants this past spring, but the one right next to it that hasn't been moved has the same problem. I wonder if it has anything to do with all the humidity, too. I had a problem on the bottom of my PHlox 'David' this year too and I usually don't.

I'm sure the humidity does have something to do with it. You might want to check on some organic, alternative treatments.

Last summer my cucumbers had that mildew problem really bad, so I once again fired up Mr Google and discovered that research had been done on using a solution of milk and water as a treatment for this particular problem. The research showed that the milk and water solution was as effective if not more effective than the usual dose of fungicide.

I think there are probably lots of alternative out there.

Kevin

not only humidity, but lack of rain and heat has stressed all our plants and you know what stress does to us....them....

Asters in general are known to have this problem. Its quite severe around here. I rarely see a nice mound of asters in the fall.

My New England ALWAYS have that problem - but once it get's flowering - who cares. It's amazing!

Just plant larger things at the bottom. All of my asters are near the back of beds for this reason.

just pulled half of them. Life's too short to look at those ugly brown brittle stubs!
mt

I have two asters. One is a NOID I got from a plant swap. It's supposedly purple, but haven't seen it bloom yet. I saw the other day that it looks like this. Ugh, gross! It's outta here.

I also have aromatic aster, got from the same plant swap. This plant is astounding!! I started with one, about a quart size. This spring I decided to relocate it, and when I did I thought, "Hmmm, I could use another one over here..." So I separated a small handful of roots, not expecting much from it the first year.

Holy cow! BOTH plants are now almost 3' wide, and the foilage is beyond perfect. I have done absolutely nothing to them, except to cut them both back once last month. I'm debating on whether I should cut them back again.

Believe me, I will be separating another little handful of roots this spring.

Connie that sounds great. If you get a chance, post a photo of your plants.

My aster with the awful bottom leaves, has such healthy top growth that I think I am going to just pull off as much of the ugly bottom leaves as I can and let them be. I really count on their display in that area, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

the short platycodon can be exc at covering up. they're fat and dense; making nice green mounds after the flowers go by.
best,
mindy

New England aster is very susceptible to this - get it every year on mine, except this year it is especially bad, due to the hot dry weather. I usually try to plant something nearby with foliage to hide the base of the aster. My cultivar 'September ruby' seems to be an exception and have much nicer lower foliage.

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (aromatic aster) is an different species of asster. It is an upland plant, native to drier prairies and much more drought tolerant, and doesn't suffer from the foliage problems.

I guess I am just surprised that in a 'dry' year, it is worse. I would have thought it would react to a lot of rain. It doesn't seem to have helped at all that I've kept it watered. At least tried to keep i watered. [g]

hot and dry can be stressors for plants that don't thrive on 'hot and dry' I think that'is circular thinking but I that's what I mean Makes them more susceptable to disease

I was out in the garden all morning and only found a few brown leaves on my asters, but this is the 1st year in about 4 where we've had decent rain, so I second the notion about stress being a contributor to the problem. I also noticed not a spot of mildew on any of my phlox this year.

Kevin

Glad I stopped over here, Hi, my name is cAROL,I am usually over on the hosta,and WSing forum.
Reading this posting is helping me a lot,I just bought a
Stokes Aster,'Peaches Pick',very pretty light purple,just a small information lable on it,actually, I bought 3.
Can any one tell me the best way to grow them?In years past, I have enjoyed looking at other peoples gardens, and loved the look of asters, only I did not know they were asters.
Do I plant them close together, will they get tall,,bushy,,?
If there is any thing you can tell me that will help me grown them on to beauty, I will appreciate it.
So far, I have enjoyed reading what every one has to say.
Thank you,
cAROL

Hi Carol, I did a search and found you a reference for your plant. It is a 'Stoke's' aster. I'm not sure what the difference is. Hopefully there is enough information on that link to give you an idea how to grow it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Stoke's Aster 'Peachie's Pick'

Thank you prairiemoon, that is the one, it is so pretty,and it really is full of blooms right now.
I appreciate your help. :0)
cAROL

Your very welcome cAROL...and good luck with it!