Aster
The aster is one of the last true field flowers of the year — dozens of small daisy-like florets on branching stems, opening in September and October when little else is fresh. Purple and lavender are the classic autumn palette. Splits into many usable side stems, giving strong coverage per stem.
| Family | Asteraceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | North America, Europe; commercially grown Netherlands, Colombia |
| Peak season | September, October, November |
| Availability | August to November |
| Stem length | 40–80 cm |
| Vase life | 7–14 days |
| Colors | white, pink, purple, lavender, blue, burgundy |
| Price tier | mid |
Cut on a diagonal, strip lower foliage. Fresh water.
- •Dozens of small daisy-like florets per branching stem
- •Refresh water every 3 days — many stems foul the water
- •One of the few reliable autumn cut flowers
- •September blooms are the peak
2 named aster cultivars from the Lacy Bird master catalogue — each a distinct commercial variety.
Entries marked ✦ come from the Acanta master catalogue — the shared database of cut flowers, forms, colours and named varieties that florists and studios build on. The rest are our editorial genus reference. What is Acanta →
Bouquet Builder — by Lacy BirdDesign the bouquet. See it as a photo.
Botanical reference
- Common name
- American aster
- Also known as
- Michaelmas daisy, New England aster, Aglotoma, Anactis, Bindera, Brachyactis, Conyzanthus, Diplactis, Fimbristima, Lasallea, Leiachenis, Mesoligus
- Distribution
- Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, Altay, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arizona, Arkansas, Bahamas
- Cold storage
- 0–1 °C
Open-data sources: GBIF, Wikidata (CC0/CC BY), USDA Agriculture Handbook 66 (public domain)
Frequently asked questions
When is Aster in season?
Aster peaks in September, October, November, and florists can usually source it August to November. Availability shifts by region and greenhouse supply.
How long does Aster last in a vase?
Expect 7–14 days with proper conditioning — a clean vase, fresh water every couple of days, flower food, and a cool spot away from ripening fruit and direct heat.
What can I use instead of Aster?
Good substitutes for Aster include Chrysanthemum, Chamomile, Shasta Daisy. Match on look, colour and season — our substitute finder ranks the closest alternatives.
What does Aster symbolise?
Aster is associated with patience, elegance, love.
How do you care for cut Aster?
Dozens of small daisy-like florets per branching stem
Related flowers
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Lacy Bird Flower Encyclopedia — “Aster”. https://lacybird.com/flowers/aster/<a href="https://lacybird.com/flowers/aster/">Lacy Bird Flower Encyclopedia — Aster</a>