Aster Flower Shape, Size, Texture & Odor. Many times, I have just laid a branch of something that had gone to seed on the ground in my garden like catnip or jack-in-the-pulpit, and seedlings would appear in that spot the following spring. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Silkie - I have left a lot of dried flower stalks on the plants to wait to see how to do this. Web World Portal | Web World Tunnel Hot pink ‘Alma Potschke’ grows 4 feet tall and is perfect for a back of the border accent. The true sepals (found around individual flowers) have been reduced to small scales, or often transformed into a hairy "pappus", or sometimes eliminated altogether. Connie, I'd like to know also????? I search the seed site and couldn't find what the seeds look like. Mary Simpson began her writing career in 1968 on a Dallas oil magazine. Once a group of asters has grown into a clump large enough to divide, usually every three years or so, use a shovel to cut into the clump, dividing it into two or more parts. In autumn, after most flowering has stopped for the year, asters are just reaching their peak. Keep in mind that many members of this family have no obvious outer ring of petals, including sagebrush. Dig up the cut parts and promptly plant them in their new location. Known for lending color to the fall landscape with their late-season blooms, aster (Aster spp.) Fortunately, aster propagation is not difficult. Although blooming is optimal in better conditions, asters tolerate poor soil and drought. Aster Opus Pack of 25 seeds for $1.99 I have at least one frind who would love to have some seeds. Sow seeds straight away as it has a short viability. This page includes Thickstem Aster, Tall Fringed Bluebells, Many-flowered Stickseed, Lupine, Pineywoods Geranium, Silver-leafed Scorpionweed, Desert Bells, Pacific Aster, Tidy Lupine, Musk Mustard, and Tanseyleaf Tansyaster. AsteraceaePlants of the Aster or Sunflower Family(Previously known as the Composite Family: Compositae). How do you collect seeds from Astilbe Plants. The mature seed head looks like a light-brown or white puffball, something like a dandelion seedhead, and each seed has its own tiny “parachute” to … Looking for life-changing resources? Astilbes have self-sowed in my garden in the past over the winter, so I'll bet they could be propagated by the winter-sowing technique (See Winter Sowing Forum on DG). I am interested in finding out the answer also. The mature seed head looks like a light-brown or white puffball, something like a dandelion seedhead, and each seed has its own tiny “parachute” to catch the wind. Sign up for our newsletter. ‘Purple Dome’ is the first true dwarf NE aster growing only 18 inches tall. Right now in my garden, the stalks of astilbes have tiny little elliptical, pointed pods marching up and down the stems where the flowers were. The Aster Opus is an annual. University of Florida Cooperative Extension: Aster Spp. At least one vine, the climbing Carolina aster (Ampelaster carolinianus), belongs to the genus. In an artichoke, for instance, those are the scale-like pieces we pull off and eat. This is not a foolproof test, only a common pattern of the Aster family. In general, the perennial flourishes in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4b to 9a. If planting from seed, they should be planted in the winter in pots. About Tom | Green University®, LLC Good luck! Petal colors may be white or shades of pink, red, purple, lavender or blue. Cover with perlite or vermiculite seed germinate's at 18oC after 6-8wks. Dandelion Removal: How To Kill Dandelions, Information On Using Bone Meal For Plants, Dandelion Seed Growing: How To Grow Dandelion Seeds, Old-Fashioned Shrubs – Memorable Bushes For Old-Time Gardens, Cardboard Potato Planter – Planting Potatoes In A Cardboard Box, Downspout Garden Planters – Plant A Rain Gutter Container Garden, Bleeding Heart Container Growing: A Guide To Bleeding Heart Container Care, What Is A Chinese Tallow Tree: How To Grow A Chinese Tallow Tree, Nectarine Tree Not Fruiting – How To Get Fruit On Nectarine Trees, Verbena Seed Harvest: Learn How To Collect Verbena Seeds, U-Pick Farms – Harvesting Healthy Food And Memories, Homesteading Ways: An Unforgettable Homestead Experience, Gardening Know How Sponsorship Winner: West Genesee High School ECOS Club. Blue & Purple Wildflowers of the Western region of the United States, page 5. Many times, I have just laid a branch of something that had gone to seed on the ground in my garden like catnip or jack-in-the-pulpit, and seedlings would appear in that spot the following spring. Check out these books by Thomas J. Elpel: Return to Thomas J. Elpel's Did anyone find the answer and have good luck with astilbe seeds? The uniqueness of the Aster or Sunflower family is that what first seems to be a single large flower is actually a composite of many smaller flowers. in journalism and an M.A.in English, both from the University of North Texas. Key Words: Composite flowers in disk-like heads. Because there are very tiny brown specks coming out of the pods which are still in the green state now, I suspect the pods will open all by themselves in the bag; but gently rubbing the stalks and then putting them back in the bag and shaking it might facilitate breaking the seeds loose from the pod. ya know i was wondering that also. At least two species, bigleaf aster (Aster macrophyllus) and Aster lateriflorus, boast autumn foliage color changes, too. The seeds should be kept in the fridge for 4-6 weeks before planting. Sorry i can't help more. North American Subfamilies of the Aster FamilyClick on the links below to see photos and learn more about each subfamily of the Aster family.Chicory / Dandelion Subfamily | Thistle / Artichoke Subfamily | Aster Subfamily. Germination can be spotty. The flower head is typically wrapped in green sepal-like "bracts" (modified leaves) surrounding the disk. Many aster varieties will self-seed in the garden, and it’s also possible to collect the mature seeds and plant them in the desired location. Next, look inside the flower head for the presence of the little disk and ray flowers. From a domed yellow center, many long, thin petals radiate out, usually in a single row. When Can I Cut Back My Missouri Primrose? Check each of the subfamilies below for the best match to your specimen. The Italian aster (Aster amellus) and its hybrid, Aster x frikartii, produce blooms that measure 2 to 2 1/2 inches across, while the smooth aster (Aster laevis) and Tatarian aster (Aster tataricus) bear dainty, 1-inch flower heads.