I have "Giant Singer Andrella" Aster's from Thompson & Morgan. They are full bushy plants, large bright flowers, they've been in bloom since end of Aug. and are still going strong. I start them from seed outside each spring.

My Aster laevis blooms around the end of August.

Aster alpinus Alpine Aster blooms early around the end of June, early July.

Aster sedifolius nanus, blooms around August and is still blooming right now.

These Asters should be blooming any day now....
Aster novae-angliae
Aster dumosus 'Anneke'
Aster novi-belgii 'Professor Anton Kippenberg'

Sharon

Thank you for the suggestions! I planted dumosus this summer and they've bloomed already...so I have high hopes for them next year. The Andrella variety from T&M is very pretty--I might have to give them a try next season.

Sharon--Your laevis actually blooms at the end of august? Wow--I planted mine in the fall 2 years ago. Right now mine is really big (20-24" tall and about 18" across) and covered in buds. Two killing frosts so far, its just a matter days before the big wammie arrives--I doubt I will see blooms this year (again :-( ).

I'm wondering what's the story with mine. Maybe I should try moving mine away from the house. Technically I am in the same zone as you Sharon. I've had no trouble with zone 4 plants over wintering in the bed where the laevis is as long as the plant has had time to settle in. Maybe the soil in that bed stays too warm in August?

Another avid gardener friend of mine said she had just torn out all of her asters this year. She was frustrated with no

mmmmmm ... there's no many nice asters now blooming in the countryside, I must take a walk and mark a few for moving into my perennial beds. Mind you, within my yard, I came across an awesome one with the most huge flower heads!

Terry

{{gwi:540642}}

Yeah, they appear along the countryside late summer here too, end of August in my garden. I have mine growing in full-sun. Just a few weeks ago, I had to shear some down because they were setting seed already and I'll yah, you sure don't want a million seeds flying around ;)

I wintersowed these ones last winter, but they didn't bloom this year, hopefully they will bloom before a hard frost next year.
Aster cordifolius
Aster ericoides Heath Aster
Aster lateriflorus Calico Aster
Aster ptarmicoides

Sharon

Great photo Sharon! I'd really like to collect many more of the species.

Terry