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new england aster volunteer?

15 years ago

I bought an 18" named new england aster variety a few years ago (Purple Dome) and really enjoy the plant. This year, another plant in the same proximity came up a week earlier than usual in the spring, then grew to gargantuan proportions (4 ft dia ball). Is this a volunteer and is my nice little aster hiding under it, or was the 18" ultimate height a lie?

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Comments (6)

aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
15 years ago
Here's where it gets confusing, there are two Asters with the same name. Purple Dome, Novae-Angliae the New England Aster can grow to 24". Purple Dome, Novi-Belgii the New York Aster can grow to 36". I imagine in different growing conditions the heights will vary some. If your Aster is nearing 4 feet yours is probably the New York Purple Dome. Many Asters along with Chrysanthemums and other plants are treated with a growth retardant so they don't get too tall which is good for displaying them in the garden centers. The following year in the garden they usually grow to their normal height. If you give your Aster a couple of pinches early in the season you cam reduce the height somewhat.

Annette
linlily
15 years ago
Ah, that explains why my Thyra Viking Novi-Belgii Aster got so tall this year. I bought it in the fall of '06 and it was not nearly this tall. '07 it seemed similar in size. But this year it's huge. And I had put it in the front of the border since it was a good size for the "front of the border" plant when I bought it. Looks like I'll be pinching it back several times next year. Do you pinch it back as you do mums - stoping around the fourth of July?

Linda
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Could be either a sun problem, a moisture problem, or a PH problem, or all three combined. How much sun does the sunny location get? There's a slight chance your aster may be getting a little too much sun, as this type of aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) prefers sun to partial shade. Many garden websites, nursery websites etc., will say to plant New England Aster in full sun. But in the wild, New England Aster grows in moist meadows, moist open woods, or on stream banks, indicating that it can take full sun, but that the soil needs to be kept moist. New England Aster also needs a well-drained soil, and will not do too well with a heavy clay soil that doesn't drain well. New England Aster also likes an acidic soil with a PH around 6.8. You may want to test the soil in the spot where you have it planted with one of those soil PH tester kits with the little test tubes to be sure the soil is acidic. If you have the aster planted close to any concrete foundation of a house or other structure, the soil may be too alkaline due to the concrete. If so, you may need to move the aster away from the structure's foundation to a more acidic PH area of the garden. Doesn't sound like powdery mildew, which can be a problem with this type of aster. Hope this helps...
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I collected seeds from a beautiful, low-growing purple aster. When the seeds grew, they must have reverted to a taller variety, because every plant I've ever grown from those seeds have been 4-5 feet tall. Though, I haven't had any trouble with flopping. I have trouble with the bottom portion of the plant turning brown and crispy. So, when they bloom, the top 1/3 is beautiful but the bottom looks like it should have gone on the compost pile long ago. I think I will plant annual Cosmos around them to help hide the unsightly lower portions. Martha
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aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
15 years ago
I usually don't pinch my Asters more then once sometime before the end of June, this is when I take cuttings if I want to increase a certain variety, Asters root very easily. I'm sure they can be pinched back later than this but don't leave it too late. If you pinch back too late the frost might get them before they flower for you especially the late blooming varieties.
Annette
tom_mn
Original Author
15 years ago
I still have the tag and it says "novae-angliae" and that it is a "very compact" cultivar. also says it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies-- but what it really attracts is bees!

Still not sure if this is a volunteer or not. The plant this year seemed different in leaf shape and habit somehow.
aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
15 years ago
Another possibility, this tall plant you have now could be a seedling from your original Purple Dome. I've had N.A. Purple Dome for three years and it tops out about 20". I have lost several Asters over the years to very wet winters, maybe this is what happened to yours.
Bees love this plant, our Aster bed is covered in honey bees on a sunny day. A
tom_mn
Original Author
15 years ago
I think that it must be a seedling that has reverted. I will move it next year away from the area and see if the Purple dome is still there.

Unlikely to have died in winter-- it is native here.

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