HOUSE AND GARDEN 
152 
September, 1912 
and feathery, heath-like foliage, 
charming when seen near at hand and 
effective at a long distance. This as¬ 
ter has more common names than 
most species, some of them poetical, 
others decidedly prosaic. Frost weed, 
Michaelmas daisy, farewell summer, 
white rosemary, dog fennel, mare’s 
tail and scrub-brush are some of the 
titles which have been bestowed upon 
it. Beginning to bloom in September, 
it lasts even up to December, meeting 
the storms of late autumn with no 
detriment to its beauty, and producing 
masses of bloom that equally adorn 
the extensive grounds of the wealthy 
and the homes of those not so fa¬ 
vored. Its manner of growth is so 
graceful that it is particularly beauti¬ 
ful for house decoration. Aster eri- 
coides wants full sunlight and a dry 
situation. It will grow in very poor or 
shallow soil, but does best where the 
roots can penetrate the ground deeply. 
Aster cordifolius, the 
common blue, branching, 
wood, or heart-leaved aster, 
is one of the most beautiful 
of the tribe, with its my¬ 
riads of small flowers grace¬ 
fully disposed in large 
spreading panicles. The 
generous masses of violet 
or pale blue flower heads 
look like a mist hanging 
from one to five feet above 
the earth in and about the 
woods and shady roadsides 
from September to Decem¬ 
ber in favored, sheltered 
places. So prodigal of its 
lovely blossoms is this spe¬ 
cies, that one may carry 
away whole armfuls and not 
feel guilty, for there is 
enough for all and the road¬ 
side still remain beautiful. 
This species prefers open 
or partial shade. With good 
soil, it improves very much 
under cultivation. 
Aster punicens, the red- 
stalked or purple-stem as¬ 
ter, is a very pretty and 
early-blooming species. It 
begins to blossom in July 
and lasts until November. 
The delicate purple flowers 
have yellow centers which 
gradually turn to a tawny 
brown, giving a great va¬ 
riety at all times on the 
stem. The blossoms are profusely produced and a plant in full 
bloom is very attractive. In some localities it is known as the 
early purple aster, swanweed, meadow scabish and cocash. It 
will not endure shade, prefers moist places, but will grow in good 
soil not over moist. In dry situations it loses its vigor, but 
spreads rapidly in favorable locations. 
Aster macrophyllus, the broad¬ 
leaved aster, is found in blossom in the 
woods in September. The lower leaves 
are very conspicuous, being especially 
large and nearly round, with a heart- 
shaped base. The foliage is a grav- 
toned green. The blossoms are pale 
lilac, verging to white, with a yellow 
center turning to brown. Quite a per¬ 
ceptible odor of camphor mingles with 
the sweet scent of the flowers. It pre¬ 
fers a shaded or half-shaded situation. 
It is impossible to name all the de¬ 
sirable native species. Try almost any 
of them and you are sure to be pleased, 
if you plant them in masses, as nature 
does. The smallest and most incon¬ 
spicuous blossoms are usually borne so 
profusely that they make a grand show 
if the plants are massed. Naturally 
the wild asters are very graceful, and 
if allowed to follow their inclinations 
a pleasing attitude is almost sure to be 
produced and a charming 
effect follow. 
There is no doubt that if 
some of these beautiful 
plants grew only in Japan 
or China, or some other far 
region, they would be 
sought out, perhaps even at 
perilous risks, and sent 
home for cultivation. It is 
only because they are so 
common, so easily obtained, 
that they are not duly ap¬ 
preciated. Most of them 
are charming, even under 
adverse conditions, and 
they improve so much un¬ 
der cultivation that they 
produce fairly gorgeous 
masses of bloom. If 
planted among hardy pe¬ 
rennials which make an 
early growth, flower, and 
then die down, leaving a 
bare or untidy space in the 
border, like the oriental 
poppy, the wild asters will 
fill the void with such a 
luxuriance of growth and 
bloom that a multitude of 
sins of this kind will be 
hidden from sight. Their 
delicate colors never clash 
with those of brighter-hued 
flowers, but tend to harmo¬ 
nize many that would 
otherwise conflict in closely 
planted gardens. If set in 
a border, the shrubs will make a background of green, and their 
blossoming time will generally be over before the asters begin. 
As previously mentioned, a large number of starworts are 
catalogued by English dealers, and it is only fair to say that many 
(Continued on page 175.) 
Novae Angliae is one of the best known and hand¬ 
somest of the tall native varieties 
To produce the best effect, the hardy asters should be planted in masses, prefer¬ 
ably among dark foliaged shrubbery 
