Italian Aster
Aster amellus
- Native to:
- Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Krym, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Ukraine
Source: Wikimedia | License: CC BY-SA 2.5 | Artist: <p>André Karwath aka <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Aka" title="User:Aka">Aka</a> </p>
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Aster
- Species:
- Aster amellus
- USDA Symbol:
- ASAM12
Growth Characteristics
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, blue, pink, violet
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, beneficial insects
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, moderately fertile loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Prefers calcareous soils in native habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination and should be surface-sown or barely covered. Germination improved with cold stratification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Prechill if seed is not fresh; germination can be uneven