Aster

Aster is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus once contained nearly 600 species in Eurasia and North America, but after morphologic and molecular research on the genus during the 1990s, it was decided that the North American species are better treated in a series of other genera. After this split there are roughly 180 species within the genus, all but one being confined to Eurasia. The name Aster comes from the Ancient Greek word astron, meaning "star", arriving through the Latin word astrum with the same meaning, referring to the shape of the flower head. Many species and a variety of hybrids and varieties are popular as garden plants because of their attractive and colourful flowers.


Selected species
Aster alpinus (Alpine aster) is an ornamental plant native to the United States. Grows to about 6-12 in. (15-30 cm) usually. Bloom color may be pink, violet/lavender, dark purple/black or white/near white. Blooms in late spring/early summer or occasionally, midsummer. It is herbaceous and attractive to bees, butterflies, and/or birds. Is said to grow in the Juneau, Alaska; Hampton, Georgia; Grand Haven, Michigan; Grove City, Ohio; Barto, Pennsylvania; and Lafayette, Tennessee regions. Does better in generally cooler climates.

Aster amellus or the European Michaelmas Daisy is a species of the genus Aster.

Aster lateriflorus (calico aster) is a plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae, native to eastern North America.

Aster tataricus is a member of the Aster genus of flowering plants. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs of Traditional Chinese medicine.

Aster tongolensis is a species of the genus Aster.

Aster tripolium is a plant of northern Europe which is confined in its distribution to saltmarshes, estuaries and occasionally to inland salt works. It is a perennial growing up to 50 cm tall with fleshy lanceolate leaves and purple ray florets flowering from July to September. The plants tend to be short-lived and populations need significant new recruitment each year from new seedlings.

Aster linosyris, Goldilocks Aster

Aster scaber

Aster pringlei

Aster sibericus



Aster alpinus (Alpine aster)



Aster amellus (Michaelmas Daisy)



Aster

Ixia (Corn Lily)

The genus Ixia consists of a number of cormous plants native to South Africa. Some of them are known as the corn lily. Some distinctive traits include: sword-like leaves, and long wiry stems with star-shaped flowers. It usually prefers... more >>>

Jamesia

Jamesia is a genus of shrubs in the Hydrangeaceae, most commonly known as Jamesia, Cliffbush or Waxflower. It is native to interior western North America, in the U.S. states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and... more >>>

Malus - The Apples

Malus, the apples, is a genus of about 30–35 species of small deciduous trees or shrubs in the family Rosaceae. Other studies go as far as 55 species including the domesticated Orchard Apple, or Table apple as it was formerly called. The... more >>>

Gerbera

Gerbera is a genus of ornamental plants from the sunflower family (Asteraceae). It was named in honor of the German naturalist Traugott Gerber, a friend of Carolus Linnaeus.

It has approximately 30 species in the wild, extending... more >>>

Echinocereus

Echinocereus is a genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized cylindrical cacti, comprising about 50 species from the southern United States and Mexico. They are commonly known as hedgehog cacti, though the term also applies for... more >>>