Symphyotrichum spathulatum
Western Mountain Aster
Daisy-like asters bring colour to the garden in late summer and autumn or spring. Violet to lavender, white, pink red or blue flowers with golden yellow centres are carried singly or in clusters. Autumn flowering asters are known as Michaelmas daisies because they flower around Michaelmas. They make fine cut flowers. Lower growing varieties, often spring flowering, are suitable for rock gardens, raised beds, small borders or containers. Symphyotrichum spathulatum - Western Mountain Aster - is a Michaelmas Daisy- like plant native to parts of California. It is a wide-ranging and varying species, with different leaf and flower forms.
Contributed by @jennlamaye
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Full sun
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Very little water
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Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)
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Moist and fertile
Common name
Western Mountain Aster
Latin name
Symphyotrichum spathulatum
type
Herbaceous Perennials
family
Asteraceae
ph
5.0 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral
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Light
Full sun
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Frost
Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)
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Soil
Moist and fertile
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Water
Very little water
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
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When the plant will bloom
full grown dimensions
0.30 M
0.70 M
Symphyotrichum spathulatum
Daisy-like asters bring colour to the garden in late summer and autumn or spring. Violet to lavender, white, pink red or blue flowers with golden yellow centres are carried singly or in clusters. Autumn flowering asters are known as Michaelmas daisies because they flower around Michaelmas. They make fine cut flowers. Lower growing varieties, often spring flowering, are suitable for rock gardens, raised beds, small borders or containers. Symphyotrichum spathulatum - Western Mountain Aster - is a Michaelmas Daisy- like plant native to parts of California. It is a wide-ranging and varying species, with different leaf and flower forms.
Planting
From Mid Spring TO Mid Autumn
Plant in an open sunny site, in soil that is alkaline toslightly acid, fertile and moisture retentive in spring and summer. A.alpinus, A. amellus, A. x frikarti and A.pyrenaeus 'Lutetia' and A.thomsonii 'Nanus' require alkaline soils and good winter drainage. Plant out autumn flowering asters in mid or late spring and spring flowering asters in mid-autumn or early spring.
Propagation by division.
From Early Spring TO Early Spring
After approximately three years, once herbaceous perennial varieties have become established clumps they should be divided in order to retain vigour. Many herbaceous plants can be divided in autumn, but spring may be the safer option just as they are starting into growth. Autumn division may result in the loss of smaller divisions if a cold, wet winter follows. The simplest method is to carefully dig around the clump and gently pull it apart into fist sized pieces and re-plant immediately. The middle of the original clump should be discarded as this will have lost vigour and become woody.
Flowering
From Mid Spring TO Mid Autumn
Most asters flower in late Summer and Autumn, with Michaelmas daisies being the later flowering varieties. There are some alpine varieties that bloom in Spring
jennlamaye