Aster
Aster amellus
Family: Asteraceae · Also called Michaelmas Daisy, Starwort, Frost Flower, Aster pseudamellus, Aster amellus
Earthy & Warm · Summer–Autumn bloomer
The aster is autumn's answer to the daisy, a star-shaped bloom that lights up the fading garden when most flowers have retreated. With over 600 species, asters range from low ground covers to tall, bushy plants, all sharing the characteristic ray-and-disc structure of the Asteraceae family.
wisdom, patience, elegance
In the Victorian language of flowers, aster means “Wisdom and patience”. Ancient Greeks burned aster leaves to ward off evil spirits. The name comes from the Greek 'aster' meaning star, for the flower's star-shaped blooms. In Hungarian folklore, asters grew from the tears of the goddess who wept over the lack of stars on Earth.
Did You Know?
Most flowers called 'asters' in North America were reclassified in the 1990s into the genus Symphyotrichum. The 'true' Aster genus is now mostly Old World species. But the name stuck, gardeners still call them asters.
Meadows, prairies, woodland edges, and roadsides across the Northern Hemisphere
Aster is native to North America, Eurasia. It naturally grows in meadows, prairies, woodland edges, and roadsides across the northern hemisphere.
Scent Profile
“A fresh, herbal fragrance with honey undertones, calming and contemplative, like an autumn garden at twilight.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameAster amellus
- FamilyAsteraceae
- Native ToNorth America, Eurasia
- Bloom SeasonSummer–Autumn
- LifespanPerennial
- Birth MonthSeptember
Cultural Significance
Ancient Greeks burned aster leaves to ward off evil spirits. The name comes from the Greek 'aster' meaning star, for the flower's star-shaped blooms. In Hungarian folklore, asters grew from the tears of the goddess who wept over the lack of stars on Earth.