My favorite plant this month are the Asters. I'm not going to try to pick a favorite Aster because they are all special in some way. Asters get a bad rap because they are tall and flop over and like to spread and bloom just when you gave up on them ever doing anything useful. But when they do finally bloom they are the gem of the garden and you are so glad to have them.
Asters provide food for a lot of caterpillars without even looking bad. They are host to American Lady, Cabbage White, Common Buckeye, Painted Lady, Pearl Crescent, Question Marks, Viceroy, Skippers, Sulphurs, Admirals, and Swallowtails. Since the flowers bloom so late in the season Aster is a very important food source for migrating butterflies and last meal for bees. The fluffy seeds come after many other food sources have been depleted and migrating and over wintering birds depend on the seed for winter food.
Due to their size and tendencies to fall over Asters are often planted in large groups. Asters look great mixed in with grasses like little blue stem. Keeping a good density of stems helps keep everyone standing up. Many gardeners also give their Asters and other fall blooming plants a good trimming in May to help them grow more densely and shorter.
Picking the right Aster for your space can be challenging since their are so many to choose from. Some prefer shade or sun. Some grow more bushy with many small flowers and some have bigger flowers at the top. Asters range in color from pink, white, blue and purple. Some species spread faster then others using rhizomes and seeds. Don't just judge by the pretty flower, match all other factors to your site. The easiest way to pick an Aster is to find one you like in your friends garden and ask for it, I'm sure they have some extra to share.
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