Planting Seeds of Friendship Aster

1. Planting Seeds of FriendshipAster Erika 3/16/11

2. Aster Three facts • Chrysanthemum • It may be perennial and an annual depending on the variety • Comes in blues, purples and a variety of pinks. All Asters are yellow in the center of the flower. They are daisy-like in appearance, even though they are a member of the sunflower family.

3. Plant Details • Plant asters in full sun or part shade • Range in size from 15 to 125 cm in height • Aster can flower from anytime from spring to late autumn (depending on the species). • Rich loam soils

4. Watering your seeds • If you receive less than 1 inch of rain a week, remember to water your plants regularly during the summer. However, many asters are moisture-sensitive; if your plants have too much moisture or too little moisture, they will often lose their lower foliage or not flower well

5. Uses • Ethnobotanic: Native Americans used white heath aster in sweat baths. Flowering plants served as binding to the structure of the sweat lodge and were added to hot rocks to produce herbal steam. White heath aster was also used medicinally to revive unconscious patients. • Economic: White heath aster is economically valuable as an ornamental. • Gardening: The showy flowers of white heath aster make it a popular plant for use in wildflower and native plant gardens. • Livestock and forage: Livestock will not consume white heath aster. It can lower the forage quality of prairie hay. • Wildlife: White heath aster is a source of nectar and shelter for butterflies. It is resistant to deer browsing.

6. Plant Varieties • Alpine Aster • Smooth Blue Aster • White Heath • New England Aster • Sea Aster

7. Sources • http://www.gardenguides.com/taxonomy/white-heath-aster-symphyotrichum-ericoides-var-ericoides/ • http://www.gardenersnet.com/flower/aster.htm • http://gardenhobbies.com/flower/aster.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aster_(genus)