Annuals asters are descended from wildChinese asters Kallisfarus, which entered Europe in the 18th century. Since then, breeders have brought a lot of new plants with different properties. One-year asters, whose varieties are over 4000 in number, have become one of the favorite flowers in our gardens.
They are herbaceous plants, possessdeveloped root system, upright solid stems. Their inflorescences are a basket, which is formed by tubular or reed flowers. Asters, varieties of which are cold-resistant, can bloom until late autumn. They can be planted without fear of over-pollination, as they relate to self-pollinating plants.
Depending on which flowers the inflorescence consists of, there are 3 classes of asters:
- Tubular - have inflorescences of tubular flowers.
- Transient. Such asters have inflorescences both tubular and reed. At the same time tubular are in the middle of the flower, reed - on its periphery, where they are represented by 1 or 2 rows.
- Reed. These are asters, varieties of which have reed inflorescences. Even if tubular inflorescences are present in them, reed inflorescences completely cover them.
Three classes of asters include 10 differenttypes, which, in turn, include 44 sortogruppy. The division into types is associated with differences in the structure of the inflorescences. The following types of asters are distinguished: Tubular, Simple, Coronoid, Semi-double, Curly, Tiled, Radial, Needle, Spherical and Hemispherical. In each class of asters - a different number of types. For example, in the first - only one - Tubular. In the second - three: Simple, Crown and Semi-double. All other types belong to the third class - Reed.
Each group of asters includes variousvariety groups, or variety types, which are called romantic and beautiful, for example, Apollo, Madeleine, Margarita, Milady, Unikum, Shenheit, Alexandria, Pionovidnye, etc. The number of variety groups in each type is not the same. Inside the variety, asters differ mainly in flower color.
In addition to division according to the structure of flowers and inflorescences, coloring, all asters, their varieties, are subdivided according to the timing of flowering into early, medium flowering periods and late.
To destination allocate grades universal, shear, casing and pot.
Cut asters have a strong and long stem,which makes them suitable for bouquets. Casing asters are more compact, with more flowers. They are used to create borders or in flowerbeds. Universal fit for both casing and cutting. Potted asters are grown as indoor plants.
In addition to all of the above, asters are divided by the size of flowers into small (up to 4 cm), medium (10 cm) and large (more than 10 cm).
Depending on the height of the bush, asters are dwarf (up to 30 cm), medium (up to 70 cm) and high (up to 1 meter). The shape of the bush - kolonovidnye, oval-sprawling, pyramidal.
For the best varieties of asters are those thatare winners of international exhibitions of these colors. Among the casing, low asters, Nadia, belonging to the Triumph variety, Annie from the Princess type, are popular. It is also possible to assign here the variety Bordyurnaya - from the needle-type variety, the Waldersee from the variety of the same name, Feuerkuge - from the Dwarf royal type. Of the new ones, Supermilya is one of the best casing dwarf varieties.
Among universal destination asters, you cannote asters Alexandria, spherical type. Gustomarhrovy, slim, tall and airy, they will decorate any garden and look great in bouquets. Lady Hamilton is a great all-rounder. Shenheit - tall, with strong peduncles and large, up to 10 cm, double non-opening flowers. Beautiful Naina variety - with large dense flowers of rich color. Beautiful needle-like aster Mystic with very large soft purple lilac flowers.
New varieties of asters, for example, excellent cuttingAstra Flirt with dense flowers on sturdy peduncles belonging to Spherical-needle, differs super early flowering. Shanghai Rose is very beautiful, astra cutter type. She has a very large, double-colored double flowers. Of the later asters, the Melody of the Night can be called, blossoming until the end of October. All varieties of asters are good in their own way.
Good luck in growing these beautiful flowers!
