Asters bring a wave of daisy-like color to the garden just as summer fades, their star-shaped blooms — the name comes from the Greek for “star” — feeding late-season pollinators when little else is flowering.
Aster at a glance
- Botanical name: Symphyotrichum
- Family: Asteraceae
- Bloom season: late summer to autumn
- Symbolism: wisdom, faith, and love
About the aster
Asters are hardy perennials that flower from late summer into autumn in shades of purple, blue, pink, and white, each bloom a ring of slender petals around a golden center. They’re invaluable for extending the garden’s color and for supporting bees and butterflies preparing for winter. The aster is September’s birth flower.
Aster meaning and symbolism
The aster symbolizes wisdom, faith, valor, and love, and the Greeks believed it could ward off evil. It’s September’s birth flower.
Types of aster
Popular varieties worth knowing:
- New England aster — tall, richly colored, and robust
- New York aster — bushier with abundant blooms
- Alpine aster — low, early-flowering rock-garden type
- Aromatic aster — compact and late-blooming
How to grow and care for aster
A few essentials keep this flower thriving:
- Grow in full sun with moist, well-drained soil
- Pinch stems in early summer for bushier, sturdier plants
- Divide clumps every few years to keep them vigorous
- Water during dry spells to prevent lower-leaf drop
- Leave seed heads to feed birds through winter
Aster FAQs
When do asters bloom?
Asters bloom from late summer into autumn, providing valuable color and pollinator food when many other perennials have finished for the year.
Are asters perennials?
Yes. Most garden asters are hardy perennials that return each year and can be divided every few years to keep them healthy and blooming well.
Do asters spread?
Yes. Asters spread steadily by their roots to form larger clumps, and some self-seed, so dividing them periodically keeps them tidy and vigorous.
Explore more
Browse more flower profiles, learn about flower meanings, or find your birth flower.