Väärisaster Aster spectabilis

Origin: Eastern USA
Special Features: Brilliant violet flowers
History: The Latin spectabilis translates to remarkable, admirable or showy
Colour: Violet
Natural Flowering Period: August - October
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z4-9
Growth Habit: Small colonies spreading by rhizomes
Foliage: Elliptic-shaped leaves
Height with Flowers: 40 cm
Spacing between Plants: 40 cm
Soil Requirements: Sandy soils preferred, pH 5.5 - 6.8
Location: Full sun
Use: Plant in containers, the rock garden, along paths or in the border with Allium tuberosum, Eryngium leavenworthii and Goniolimon "Sea Spray"
Specialities: Cut flower candidate

Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 Seeds: 0,833
Seeds per Gram: 1200
Seeding Recommendation: 3 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 3-4 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 72, 128
Germination: These seeds germinate rapidly depending on species and origin. If germination does not occur after 3-4 weeks a cooling period of 2-4 weeks is recommended.

 

Scheduling:
Best Sowing Dates: November - March
Sowing to Germination: 4 - 6 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 6 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 6 - 8 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Cut back 1-2 times; once at transplanting; once again 4 weeks later to keep more compact

 

Growing On:
Container Size(s): 1 plug per 8/9 cm; 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm
Vernalization: A prudent recommendation would be to provide 6-12 weeks at an average daily temperature of 5°C. Exposure to cold may not be necessary for flowering but might improve quality.
Forcing: This species is not a suitable candidate for forcing.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)

Bot. syn.: Eurybia spectabilis (Ait.) G. L. Nesom.