New York asters (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii) are a great option if you’re
starting a pollinator garden
. Asters originate from eastern North America, where they serve as an important food source for indigenous birds and pollinators during late summer and early autumn—times when many natural food sources begin to diminish. These flowers, also referred to as Michaelmas daisies, include varieties like the tall New York aster which can remain in bloom for about six weeks. Once pollinators finish consuming the nectar, these plants continue to nourish avian life through the winter with their seed heads.
You’ll adore these plants for their ability to add cheerfulness to your garden with daisies-like blooms that complement the season’s orange, brown, and golden tree leaves. While natural asters predominantly feature hues of violet, hybrid varieties expand this palette to include whites, pinks, and reds. Being late-season blooming flowers, New York aster serves as an excellent indigenous substitute for exotic chrysanthemums. Additionally, they work wonderfully as cut flowers.
Reaching heights of up to 5 feet, these plants are ideal for prairie gardens and can be placed at the rear edges of borders. A favorite among gardeners, this species includes several compact variants like ‘Mount Everest’, standing at an ironic 3 feet tall. There are also more petite options: ‘Nesthäkchen’ comes in at 18 inches, ‘Professor Kippenberg’ measures just one foot, and dwarf types include the tiny ‘Winston Churchill’, barely reaching 3 inches in height.
Read more:
Maintain Bird Visitors in Your Yard This Winter Using a Roosting Box
How to Grow and Care for New York Asters
Durable within USDA zones 4 through 8, New York asters were present in North America long before New York became a state, making them highly adaptable to local environments with little upkeep needed. While these plants can thrive in less sunny spots, optimal flowering requires planting them somewhere that receives a minimum of six hours of sunlight each day.
To
attract additional birds and pollinator species to your garden
Plant your asters close to shrubs or trees so that birds can easily move between branches and the plants when feeding, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for herbicides and pesticides—New York asters do not require these chemicals to thrive. You might need to stake the taller plants to keep them standing erect. Wait until late winter, after the birds have eaten all the seeds from the stalks, before cutting those dried stems down to the ground.
Asters from New York may suffer from powdery mildew. To avoid this fungus initially, ensure they receive ample sunlight and separate clumps every couple of years to enhance airflow. Instead of watering from above, irrigate the plant base directly since fungi thrive in damp conditions. Should you notice symptoms of contamination, isolate the sickly specimens to hinder further dissemination of the mold spores; dispose of these contaminated plants into trash bags instead of adding them to compost piles. While powdery mildew isn’t lethal to the flora, taking away afflicted units safeguards both avian life and insect pollinators better than applying chemical treatments ever could. However, should you opt for employing such products, adhere strictly to application guidelines provided with each product’s packaging instructions. Learn more about nurturing these flowering perennials through exploring additional resources we provide here.
guide to growing asters
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