Aster Kickin’ series
* Common name: Aster Kickin’ series
Aster Kickin’ ‘Purple’
* Botanical name: Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Kickin’ series
* What it is: This is a new series of compact asters, which are native, early-fall-blooming perennials with daisy-like flowers around a central yellow eye. They’re drought-tough and good choices for attracting butterflies late in the season.
The Kickin’ series comes in seven different colors: ‘Carmine Red,’ ‘Lilac Blue,’ ‘Lavender,’ ‘Pink Chiffon,’ ‘Silver Pink,’ ‘Mauve,’ and my favorite, ‘Purple.’
* Size: 2 feet tall and wide.
* Where to use: Perennial borders, cut-flower gardens, or any sunny bed or bank. Full sun is best for heaviest bloom.
* Care: Keep damp the first season, then water usually not needed. Scatter a balanced organic or slow-acting granular fertilizer formulated for flowers around the plants in early spring and again eight weeks later.
Snip off flowers after they brown if you’re neat; otherwise, let them stand all winter. Browned-out leaves can be cut to the ground after hard fall frost or at end of winter.
Plants can be dug and divided in early spring as new growth just starts to emerge.
* Great partner: Red switchgrass is a native grass that makes a nice textural contrast and turns burgundy as aster flowers. Goldenrod is another native perennial that blooms in fall with asters and looks especially nice with Kickin’ ‘Purple.’