September, 1921 
49 
MICHAELMAS DAISIES FOR FALL EFFECTS 
This Flower Group , Sadly Neglected by Gardeners in Its Native Land, 
Deserves a Place Among Our Fall Blooms 
JOHN JOHNSON 
1\ X ICHAELMAS daisies, or more cor- 
rectly, the perennial asters, comprise a 
very extensive genus of hardy herba¬ 
ceous plants. Although many of the species 
are among our native plants and are generally 
known as “starworts”, it is a little surprising 
that American gardeners have not as yet shown 
their appreciation of the value of this splendid 
group of plants for garden adornment. Bloom¬ 
ing as most of them do at a time when the more 
tender flowers of autumn have either been 
nipped by frost or blasted by storm winds, 
Michaelmas daisies not only merit a place in 
the hardy flower garden, but are in¬ 
deed indispensable where color is 
sought late in the season. For fine 
autumnal effects they stand unsur¬ 
passed ; whether grouped in the 
mixed border, or massed in beds, 
they are equally striking. The light, 
graceful habit of some of the small 
flowered species makes them particu- 
arly valuable as potted plants for in¬ 
door decoration. As pot plants they 
not only possess individual merit 
but, associated with the flowers of 
chrysanthemums, are very beautiful. 
plants which offer so much variety in height 
and habit, as well as in color. No one could 
believe, who has not taken the pains to study 
the well defined characteristics of the different 
types of starworts, that the plants are worthy 
of more than passing notice, but they are. To 
know them is to love them, because they give 
us a range of color in the hardy flower garden 
at a time of year when it is unobtainable from 
any other source. 
Those who know Michaelmas daisies also 
know something of the pleasure of being able 
to guess somewhat closely at the parentage of 
Two Hundred Species 
When it is generally conceded that 
our perennial borders are character¬ 
ized by a lack of variety compared 
with the number of species grown in 
European gardens, it is really a won¬ 
der the starworts should be so grossly 
neglected. Here is a genus of more 
than 200 species from which to make 
a selection, and in addition to this 
vast number, innumerable hybrid va¬ 
rieties which possess especial merit 
and are considered among the most 
beautiful of all hardy herbaceous 
plants by English gardeners. 
Indeed, these plants have gained such favor 
across the water, where perennial plants of all 
kinds have always received a great deal of at¬ 
tention, as to be often given a separate garden. 
And in passing we might well confess our 
thanks are due the British hybridizer for some 
of the most beautiful varieties now in com¬ 
merce. It is hardly expected that the average 
American will treat Michaelmas daisies so 
lavishly and exclusively as to plant them in a 
separate inclosure, until he possesses a more 
intimate knowledge of their cultural possi¬ 
bilities. 
To appreciate the worth of this interesting 
genus, we must first see a representative col¬ 
lection in bloom, and having seen them once in 
all their glory when the ordinary garden is 
almost flowerless, we shall then realize that 
here is a genus of garden plants of the highest 
merit. For there are few, if any, groups of 
supply of water during periods of drought. In 
common with most garden plants, some varie¬ 
ties are a little capricious, or rather, seem to be; 
flowering profusely one year and failing almost 
utterly the next. It is our opinion that this 
flowering habit is largely due to neglect on the 
part of the cultivator during the prodigious 
blooming period. Many of the starworts attain 
such spreading dimensions that water during 
ordinary rainfall seldom if ever reaches the 
roots when the plants are in full growth. Con¬ 
sequently the plants suffer at a time when their 
energies are being taxed to the limit. In ex¬ 
treme cases a plant may die from 
this very cause. When it does not 
suffer to the point of death, it is not 
unusual for a plant to require a 
whole year in which to recuperate. 
When plants are in heavy growth a 
quickly available stimulant, such as 
liquid from the barnyard, will not 
only help them at a critical period, 
but give depth of color to both flower 
and foliage. Where this is out of 
the question an occasional dressing 
of bonemeal, guano, sheep manure, 
or any complete fertilizer raked into 
the surface soil about the plants and 
well watered in during the growing 
season, will help materially toward 
insuring a perfect display of bloom 
another year. At the close of the 
season there is always a tendency to 
overlook the importance of watering, 
and while at the time a dire effect 
might not be very apparent, it sooner 
or later shows. 
Planting Seasons 
McFarland 
There is a light, colorful grace about Michaelmas daisies, and 
bloom at a season when other flowers are scarce. They 
wide range of colors and sizes 
they 
come in a 
a new variety. Of course the work of hybridi¬ 
zation has been so great and persistent during 
recent years, that unless one has kept in close 
touch with all that is new, even to attempt a 
guess at the origin of the latest varieties would 
be to hazard disappointment. To treat of more 
than an imperfect list of what we consider the 
best varieties for garden purposes would be 
impracticable, and would doubtless defeat the 
object of our text. 
F'ew plants require less attention than the 
perennial asters and none shows such a happy 
response to a little extra care. They will thrive 
under most varied conditions of soil and ex¬ 
posure and are generally immune from insect 
pests and diseases. This is a great point in 
their favor. Certain species endure dryness 
with impunity, but generally, Michaelmas 
daisies pay for generous treatment in the way 
of deep and rich cultivation and an adequate 
Michaelmas daisies may be plant¬ 
ed either in autumn immediately 
after flowering, or in the spring. 
Spring planting is preferable be¬ 
cause the season of flowering is so late that the 
plants can hardly become established in new 
quarters before too severe weather sets in if fall 
planting is adopted. Where at all possible, the 
ground should be trenched or at least deeply 
dug and heavily manured the autumn previous 
to planting, as it may not be necessary to re¬ 
plant for some time. However, established 
plants repay lifting, dividing and replanting in 
well manured ground, about once in every 
three years. For planting in the wild garden, 
against a background of shrubbery, or massing 
in open spaces of the home grounds, the most 
useful species are; Amellus, Acris, Novae- 
A uglier, Novce-Belgii, Aricoides, Cordifolius, 
and Vimincus. Of each of the foregoing there 
are numerous beautiful varieties well worth a 
place in the most exclusive hardy garden. 
Aster amellus, a native of southern Europe, is 
(Continued on page 88) 
