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Garden of coloured stars

Asters come in varied colours and are a gardener's delight

A LARGE GENUS There are over 500 species of asters

Aster in Latin means `a star' and is descriptive of the star-like flower heads of some species of the Aster genus of the composite family. Five-hundred odd species of mostly perennials go to make this large genus.

Asters thrive in temperate and sub-temperate climate and soil conditions. In the wild, they are found only in the Northern Hemisphere and South Africa on accessible cliffs, crevices and overhangs as well as screes with thin grass cover. They grow primarily in limestone, dolomite and other basic substrata not only in the mountains but also in piedmont and foothills, often at the bottom of deep, shady ravines. The Alpine Aster, Aster alpinous, is one of the most common Asters, cultivated all over the world.

The Aster is represented in the Indian subcontinent's Himalayan region by the following species — A. acris — all along the upper Himalayas, A. souling - Tibetan Himalayas, A. tibetricus - Tibet, A.himalaicus - Sikkim and A. Thomsoni - Western Himalayas. These Asters are favourites now in European and North American temperate regions.

In India, some popular Asters are King — Aster, Aster alpinous K. G. Michaelmas daisy, A. novibelgii, Goldilocks, A. linosyrus and the brilliant bright pink King George Aster. Aster alpinous, its many mutants, cultivars and named strains are preferred for cultivation for the cut flower trade. They remain fresh in air-conditioned rooms for days.

Aster alpinous is un-branched with shortly hairy stems, with hairy conspicuously three-veined leaves. The flower heads at the top of the stems have golden yellow disc florets and larger ray florets, coloured violet-blue or pink to white. A characteristic of the species is the marked variation in the colour of the flowers. Scientists hold this factor of colour variation could be due to the influence of rock substrata. Asters are herbaceous, hardy, clump forming, erect and can grow even in ordinary soil.

Aster alpinous is a favourite among gardeners. Care, however, should be taken not to allow the soil to dry out in the sun or shade. Propagation is by division. Gently split into single-rooted shoots and plant in well-drained, humus-rich soil in sunny sites. Asters may take time to acclimatise. The slender stems, narrow leaves and terminal clusters of daisy-like flower-heads look delightful in bouquets or as individual flowers.

J. MANGALRAJ JOHNSON

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