Download BUSHY ASTER

Page 10, Winter, 1985/1986, PALMETTO
of Weeds
Wildflowers
perennial
The
root
system
a
system.
underground
root
an
its
has
from
called
Hall
stem
by David
is
ASTER
BUSHY
the seeds fall readily into your hand.
Seeds are not the best way to get
plants started in your landscape,
aster
Florida's
Bushy
Joy
however.
The
is
stem
the
the
would
wildflower
during
plant
this
The
spotted
because
season
be
winter.
transplant
to
the
to
growing
have
during
time
rhizome that can be moved.The best
of
of
inches
time
two
at
forms
landscapes.
from
range
height
growth
home
The
many
in
are
can
plant.
usually
is
Blooming
feet.
four
fall,
the
during
days
short
the
the
in
days
short
the
sometimes
the
the
the
of
much
as
are
flowering.
grow
entirely
forms
to
spring
plants
trigger
Some
time
the
blooming
in
almost
will
A
are
very
the
wider-
top.
uniform
forms
the
at
leaves
These
found
much
at
small,
Other
the
is
with
found
of
plant.
all
plant.
Florida
south
to
to
tend
but
shade,
shrub.
good
blooms.
herbaceous
make
fewer
and
margins
this
lawn
survive
will
and
mowed
be
can
mowed
if
Obviously,
nicely.
and
small
quite
are
seeds
much
produce
not
will
it
frequently
the
few
a
on
only
have
ground
the
will
to
and
growth
close
flowers
top
These
top.
the
at
clumped
hairs
have
hairs enable the seed to be carried by
the wind or to be caught in the fur of
germination of the seeds, they must
be gathered when they are brown
and the headhasdisintegratedsothat
plants.
stunted
any
get
To
animals.
the ray flowers around the outside of
the head. These ray flowers are straplike, white to blue to pale lavender,
and are responsible for the star-like
passing
are
flowers
showy
The
all.
at
The
seed.
small
The
heads.
these
in
flowers
of
flowers in the center of the head are
yellowish or brown and are not
showy
had
found
not
winter.
form
blades
the
denser
foliage
plant
to
and
more
have
Borders
places
It
each
in
produced
head, as each flower in the head has a
types
or light
two
actually
are
There
brown.
by white
the heads are one-third to two-thirds
of an inch in diameter.
are
leaves
seeds
The
(bracts)havea green stripe down the
bordered
effect isquite showy.When in bloom
Many
stem.
look. While each of these flattened,
thin flowers is small, the clustered
that
leaves
small
same
the
of
clusters
appearance.
The flowers are in heads or clusters
surrounded by what appear to be
in
so
have
plants
Some
size.
many of these small leaves on the
slender stems that they are wispy in
and west to Michigan, Arkansas, and
louisiana.
Bushy aster can be found and
cultivated throughout
Florida. It
occurs in dry to moist habitats such as
sandhi lIs, hammocks, pinewoods,
and ditches. The best flowering is
found in open areas with bright sun;
however, broken shade will produce
good results, also. The plants will
bloom
the
under
stalks
the
and
branches
same
the
flowers are covered with many of
these short leaveswhich are all about
center
have
will
usually
leaf
from
become
leaves
the
top
the
At
plant.
the
short and blunt. The upper ends of all
upper
Massachusetts
growth
of
habit
The
is
usually in a cluster and are seen in the
early spring. Normally, during the
summer, these basal leaves are shed.
This species ranges southwards
much branched and spreading, or
sometimes quite strict.
Foliage is very narrow, long, and
spreading on the lower parts of the
are on the
will
spring
has
lower
have
leaves
third
simply
of
Dumosus
toothed
bushy.
means
flowers.
base
of
nearly
the
larger leaves usually found on only
the aster or Sunflower
Family
(Asteraceae). Aster is a Greek word
meaning "a star," alluding to the
heads
the
plant
after
plant
usually
BUShY aster is a pretty wildflower
which needs almost no care. This
herbaceous perennial is delicate in
appearance and will fit into a
landscape along most any border.
Bushy aster, Aster dumosus l., is in
shortest
The
early
~
aI
00
but
00
>-
during
-'
~
to
C
N
blooming
this
There
problem
freezes to the ground in the northern
parts of Florida.
While
the
underground stem does creep along
under the soil, it is not especially
aggressive and does not become a
For a fall blooming treat, plant
carefree
bushy aster in you r
landscape.