Dark Beauty Alpine Aster

Description:

Compact, spreading habit; profusion of violet flowers and attractive lance-like green leaves; prefers cool, moist soil; water the root zone instead of from the top to reduce fungal disease; water regularly to encourgage more blooms; long lasting flowers

Ornamental Features:

Dark Beauty Alpine Aster features beautiful violet daisy flowers with yellow eyes at the ends of the stems from late spring to early summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. It's narrow leaves remain dark green in colour throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.

Landscape Attributes:

Dark Beauty Alpine Aster is a dense herbaceous perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance perennial, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Disease

Dark Beauty Alpine Aster is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• General Garden Use
• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• Container Planting

Plant Characteristics:

Dark Beauty Alpine Aster will grow to be about 10 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 4 years.

This perennial does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to dry locations, and dislikes excessive moisture. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This plant can be propagated by division.

This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.