Alpine astra - it is often called the Korzhinsky aster or false, and sometimes they are confused and called Alpine chamomile. This grassy ground cover flowering perennial has taken root in Russian gardens, as it is distinguished by its rare survivability and a rich palette of shades.
What does an alpine aster look like?
The flowers really resemble an ordinary annual, but this is where the similarity with the classic aster ends. Otherwise, the plant has many interesting features.
The description of the plant says that the herbaceous perennial aster grows up to 35 cm in height, but there are dwarf species only 10 cm high. The stems and obovate leaflets of dark green color can be pubescent.
Aster alpinus
Inflorescences are single baskets at the ends of erect stems up to 5.5 cm in diameter. It blooms with white, pink, lilac, purple flowers from June to August. Early varieties bloom in May and bloom until July, and later in July only bloom, but continue to delight the eye until the frost. From withered flowers seeds with a white tuft are formed, ripening by September.
For reference! Aster alpinus belongs to the dicotyledonous species and the family of asters (Asteraceae).
Various varieties have been bred in the culture, having one predecessor, described by Karl Linnaeus in 1753. In total, three wild-growing species of alpine aster are known:
- Serpentimontanus (Zmeinogorskaya) - herbaceous perennial plant 8-10 cm tall, flowers 3.5-4 cm in diameter pinkish-purple with a yellow core, prefers gravel and rocky slopes near rivers;
- Tolmatschevii (Tolmacheva) - differs from the Zmeinogorsk one by an even larger, fully tinted yellow flower;
- Vierhapperi is the tallest variety up to 35 cm high, blooms with pink flowers from June to July, is found in Eastern Siberia, Alaska, Western Canada, and Colorado.
In the natural environment, alpine aster is common in Russia (listed in the regional Red Books) and in Europe, as well as in Asia, China, North America. Cultivation began in the XVI century. Groundcover goes well with many annuals, but for the most part has found application in the creation of rock gardens.
Popular varieties of white, blue, pink species
The necessary shade can be found among both early and late varieties. The choice is wide enough, and on average each variety blooms 35-40 days.
Albus is a white semi-double aster with a yellow curly core, blooming from June to July. Height - from 15 to 20 cm. Flowers up to 4 cm in diameter. Prefers partial shade and moderate watering.
Albus
Happy End is a rather tall variety and very popular, up to 30 cm high, blooming with bright pink or purple-blue flowers with a yellow center (up to 4 cm in diameter) from May to June. Greens do not lose their appearance even after the onset of frost.
Happy end
Goliath - the variety got a name for its very large (up to 6 cm in diameter) flowers, the shade of which can vary from delicate pink to subtle lilac-blue (cornflower blue). Bushes up to 20 cm high. Flowering lasts all June.
Goliath
Ruber - the variety has a standard obstruction for this species, flowers (diameter up to 4 cm) have a bright raspberry color. Early flowering - captures May and June. Bushes grow up to 30 cm high, and grow up to 50 cm wide.
Ruber
Violetta - a new hybrid variety, belongs to the blue variety of alpine asters (blue). It blooms from May to June with lush cornflower flowers (up to 5 cm in diameter). The height of the bushes is up to 40 cm. Suitable for cutting.
Violet
Dunkle Schone - perfect for fans of purple colors. On bushes up to 30 cm high, many flowers bloom (diameter up to 5 cm) of a saturated purple hue. The foliage during seed germination is initially grayish, and then becomes dull green.
Dunkle schone
Astra perennial alpine: growing from seeds
To grow in this way is simple, but long: the waiting period for seedlings is from 3 to 4 weeks, which is important to consider when planning plantings.
Landing capacity and soil
The depth of the root system is up to 30 cm, so containers for container cultivation are taken with a height of 35 cm (with a margin for drainage). For seedlings, glasses 10-15 cm high are suitable.
The soil is fertile, adding humus, peat and sand to it in equal proportions. Additionally, dolomite flour is introduced (can be replaced with crushed egg shells).
Seed preparation and sowing
Sowing is carried out with 1 cm deepening of each seed. The soil is abundantly watered and covered with glass or film to create a greenhouse effect.
Shoots appear at a temperature of + 15-18 ° C. Between the seeds, it is advisable to immediately maintain a distance of 20 cm in open ground, and in containers so that it is easy to dive.
The timing
If the seedling method is chosen, then sowing is carried out in February.
Sown in the open ground in early May or a little earlier in more southern areas (Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories). If you delay the sowing, then flowering will come only next year.
How to care for seedlings
Seedlings dive in stage 2-4 of these leaves. If seedlings appeared in the first half of March or even earlier, then additional illumination is necessary (daylight hours - 10 hours).
Watered sparingly when the soil dries well. 7-10 days before transplanting into the open ground, hardening begins from half an hour a day, gradually increasing to 2-3 hours.
Landing
Seedlings are planted in the flower garden when the threat of frost, which is extremely fatal to young asters, is 100% past. If the spring is late, then you can drop it off under the film, which is removed after a week.
Important! The first wintering is necessarily carried out with shelter!
Replanting method
On sale you can easily find bushes of alpine aster of various colors, presented in containers.
This is a great planting material that can be purchased at any time from May to September and immediately planted in a permanent place. They often choose it, since it is quite troublesome to grow seedlings.
Sowing in open ground is carried out in early May, keeping an interval of 20 cm between individual plants. After emergence, they are watered only as necessary, since overmoistening is destructive for them.
How does the alpine perennial aster reproduce?
Vegetatively alpine aster reproduces easily. In the summer it is cuttings, and in September they divide 3-4-year-old bushes.
- Bush division
As soon as the bush reaches the age of 3-4 years, it can be dug up in September or May, carefully divided into 2-3 parts, to immediately plant in new places. The procedure is strictly recommended, as a strongly overgrown bush begins to age, lose its decorative effect, flowers fade.
- Cuttings
The technique is used to breed elite varieties.
Take a twig 6-8 cm long with 2 growth points. Mix the soil with ash, sand and peat and fill the containers in which the cuttings are rooted (buried by 4 cm). The formation of roots is 4 weeks, after which they are immediately planted in a permanent place.
Transplantation is carried out in individual landing pits, which dig at a distance of 20 cm from each other or more. Fill the roots with fertile soil, and then mulch well, so that you do not have to loosen the soil and often weed it.
Features of caring for Aster alpinus home
If you choose to grow in a container on the windowsill, you should follow a few important rules. In the so-called alpine chamomile, growing, caring, replanting at home is quite simple.
A temperature of + 15-18 ° C (3-4 weeks) is sufficient for seed germination. If the temperature is higher, the seedlings will appear earlier. At + 20-22 ° C the plant feels great most of the year. In winter, during dormancy, a decrease in the range from 0 to + 10 ° C is necessary.
Important! Astra loves diffused light, tolerates partial shade. Direct sun is required during the flowering period.
Pots are watered only when the soil dries to a depth of 5-10 cm from above. The bay is harmful to the root system.
Sprinkling is not required, but in general the bushes respond positively to it if the plant is near a source of fresh air (on the balcony or near an open window).
The usual level of humidity in the room (50-60%) for asters is optimal.
The soil is prepared fertile and loose. Loosening components are necessarily introduced into it: sand, small pebbles, as well as peat. Astra needs calcium for nutrition, so dolomite flour or crushed egg shells are mixed into the soil.
Complex mineral fertilizer is given 1-2 times per season, since the plant belongs to slowly growing ones and from the excess of fertilizers it may wither away.
When and how it blooms
On average, the flowering of each variety lasts 30-45 days.
An inflorescence is a basket in which the central tubular flowers have short yellow corollas, and the outer tier is formed from long flowers of pink, white, blue, and purple. Some hybrids may have a basket full of the same color.
In shape, the inflorescence usually looks like a chamomile, in which long petals can have a simple shape, pointed, with a wavy edge.
Most of the varieties available for sale bloom in May-June, but in nurseries you can also find others blooming closer to the end of summer.
When the bushes bloom, their water consumption increases significantly. If the rest of the time, with sufficient rainfall, planting can not be watered at all, then during flowering, watering is necessary every week. Dry flowers, if seeds are not needed, are removed to make the bushes look more beautiful.
Possible problems in growing
In general, with proper agricultural technology, Alpine aster does not cause trouble. The causes of potential problems are well understood.
If the green part of the mountain asters begins to turn yellow, then this indicates that the plant was attacked by a disease or it dries up. Preventive treatment is carried out with a suitable drug, watering is increased.
Important! Spider mites and aphids are the main pests of alpine asters. Against them, they are treated with Akarin, which has a wide spectrum of action.
Traces of powdery mildew can often be seen on the bushes. Its source is an excess of nitrogen in the soil and damp weather. Helps reduce watering and treatment with the drug "Topaz", and in autumn the bushes are sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate.
A small number of flowers and a pale appearance indicate a thickening of the planting. With excess moisture, asters wither and die quickly. If the landing site is chosen too dark, then the buds may not form at all.
Alpine aster is a perennial favorite by gardeners, diverse in shades and sizes of bushes. For each garden, you can choose an interesting variety!
