|
 Fall
aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
Most of the time, fall aster looks like a standard, low, greenish
shrub. It sort of disappears into the landscape. Suddenly,
in fall, it bursts into bloom, covering the ground with hundreds
of small purple to lavender flowers. For us, it's a signal
that fall has arrived, but itís also attractive to
beneficial insects. Designers like its look against yellow
bloomers like Mexican mint marigold, Copper Canyon daisy,
and lantana. It's also beautiful against pink or white salvias.
Best of all, it requires little water and no fertilizer to
perform beautifully year after year, spreading its wealth
a little further each season. Itís easy to divide in
early spring. To keep it full, prune it occasionally in growing
season until mid-summer. It's tolerant of many soils, making
it a must-have for the Central Texas garden.
|
