Annual asters, varieties and classification

Annual asters originate from the wild Chinese astrologer Callisferus, who came to Europe in the 18th century. Since then, breeders have brought out a lot of new plants, differing in different properties. Annual asters, whose varieties exceeded 4000 already, became one of the favorite flowers in our gardens.

They belong to herbaceous plants, they have a developed root system, erect hard stems. Inflorescences in them are a basket, which is formed by tubular or reed flowers. Asters, whose varieties are cold-resistant, can bloom until late autumn. They can be planted without fear of pollination, as they refer to self-pollinating plants.

Depending on what kind of flowers the inflorescence consists of, three classes of asters are distinguished:

1. Tubular - have inflorescences of tubular flowers.
2. Transitional. Such asters have inflorescences and tubular, and reed. In this case, the tubular are in the middle of the flower, the ligulate ones are along its periphery, where they are represented by 1 or 2 rows.
3. Reed. These are asters, whose varieties have ligulate inflorescences. Even if they contain inflorescences tubular, reed inflorescences completely cover them.

Three classes of asters include 10 different types, which, in turn, include 44 variety groups. The division into types is associated with differences in the structure of the inflorescences. The following types of asters are distinguished: Tubular, Simple, Venous, Semi-double, Curly, Tender, Radial, Needle, Globular and Hemispherical. In each class aster - a different number of types. For example, in the first - only one - Tubular. In the second - three: Simple, Venetian and Semi-double. All other types belong to the third class - Yazychkov.

Each group of asters includes different sort groups, or sortotypes, which are called romantic and beautiful, for example, Apollo, Madeleine, Margarita, Milady, Unicum, Shenhate, Alexandria, Pion-shaped, etc. The number of variety groups in each type is not the same. Inside the variety group, asters differ mainly in the coloration of flowers.

In addition to dividing the structure of flowers and inflorescences, coloring, all asters, their varieties, are subdivided in terms of flowering into early, medium flowering and late.

According to their intended purpose, varieties are universal, cut, casing and pot.

Stitched asters have a sturdy and long stem, which makes them suitable for making bouquets. Casing asters are more compact, with a large number of flowers. They are used to create curbs or flower beds. Universal fit both for casing and for cutting. Potted asters are grown as houseplants.

In addition to all of the above, asters divide the size of flowers into small (up to 4 cm), medium (10 cm) and large (more than 10 cm).

Depending on the height of the bush, asters are dwarf (up to 30 cm), medium (up to 70 cm) and high (up to 1 meter). According to the form of the bush - the column-shaped, oval-spreading, pyramidal.

For the best varieties asters are recognized those who are prizewinners of international exhibitions of these colors. Among the casing, low asters are popular Nadia, belonging to the type Triumph, Anyuta from the Princess type. Here you can also class the crochet Little cot - from the sortotype Needles, Waldersee from the same type, Foerkugel - from the varietal type Dwarf Royal. Of the new - Supermiles - one of the best casing dwarf varieties.

Among the asters of universal purpose, we can mention asters Alexandria, which are of the type of Globular. Gustomahrovye, slim, tall and airy, they decorate any garden and look great in bouquets. Lady Hamilton is a wonderful universal variety. Shenhayt - high, with sturdy peduncles and large, up to 10 cm, double nonprecipative flowers. A beautiful Naina variety - with large, dense flowers of saturated color. Beautiful needle Mystic aster with very large, gently lilac silvery flowers.

New varieties of asters, for example, a beautiful cut aster. Flirting with dense flowers on strong peduncles, related to Globular-needle, is distinguished by super-early flowering. Very beautiful is the Shanghai rose, an aster of the cutoff type. It has very large, double-colored double flowers. From the late asters you can call the Melody of the Night, blooming until the end of October. All varieties of asters are good in their own way.

I wish you success in cultivating these beautiful flowers!