''Aster'' is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Its circumscription has been narrowed, and it now encompasses around 170 species, all but one of which are restricted to Eurasia; many species formerly in ''Aster'' are now in other genera of the tribe

Astereae Astereae is a tribe of plants in the family Asteraceae that includes annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, shrubs, and trees. They are found primarily in temperate regions of the world. Plants within the tribe are present nearly worldwide di ...

. ''

Aster amellus ''Aster amellus'', the European Michaelmas daisy, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus '' Aster'' of the family Asteraceae. Etymology The specific name ''amellus'' is first used in the Georgics (Book IV, 271–280), a poem of the Lati ...

'' is the type species of the genus and the family Asteraceae. The name ''Aster'' comes from the Ancient Greek word (''astḗr''), meaning "star", referring to the shape of the flower head. Many species and a variety of hybrids and varieties are popular as garden plants because of their attractive and colourful flowers. 'Aster' species are used as food plants by the larvae of a number of

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

species—see list of Lepidoptera that feed on ''Aster''. Asters can grow in all hardiness zones.

Circumscription

The genus ''Aster'' once contained nearly 600 species in Eurasia and North America, but after morphologic and molecular research on the genus during the 1990s, it was decided that the North American species are better treated in a series of other related genera. After this split there are roughly 180 species within the genus, all but one being confined to Eurasia. in

Flora of North America The ''Flora of North America North of Mexico'' (usually referred to as ''FNA'') is a multivolume work describing the native plants and naturalized plants of North America, including the United States, Canada, St. Pierre and Miquelon, and Greenla ...

. The New World species have now been reclassified in the genera ''

Almutaster ''Almutaster'' is a North American genus of plants in the family Asteraceae containing the single species ''Almutaster pauciflorus'' (formerly ''Aster pauciflorus''), which is known by the common name alkali marsh aster. It is native to Canada ( ...

'', ''

Canadanthus ''Canadanthus'' is a North American monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The only species is ''Canadanthus modestus'' (formerly ''Aster modestus''), commonly known as great northern aster or western bog aster. It is nat ...

'', ''

Doellingeria ''Doellingeria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It contains species formerly included in ''Aster'' but now considered to be a distinct genus. They are known commonly as tall flat-topped astersEucephalus'', '' Eurybia'', ''

Ionactis ''Ionactis'', common name stiff-leaved asters or ankle-asters, is a small genus of plants belonging to the family Asteraceae. These aster-like plants are endemic to North America (Canada and the United States).Oligoneuron ''Solidago'' sect. ''Ptarmicoidei'' is a section of flowering plants in the genus ''Solidago''. They are sometimes considered a separate genus: ''Oligoneuron''. Like related species they are known as goldenrods. This section contains seven specie ...

'', ''

Oreostemma ''Oreostemma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Species are found in western North America, with two endemic to California. ; Species * '' Oreostemma alpigenum'' (Tundra aster) — California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, ...

'', ''

Sericocarpus ''Sericocarpus'' is a genus of North American plants in the tribe Astereae within the family Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within ...

'' and ''

Symphyotrichum ''Symphyotrichum'' () is a genus of over 100 species and naturally occurring hybrids of herbaceous annual and perennial plants in the composite family Asteraceae, most which were formerly treated within the genus ''Aster''. The majority are end ...

'', though all are treated within the same tribe,

. The "China aster" is in the related genus ''

Callistephus ''Callistephus'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae, containing the single species ''Callistephus chinensis''. Its common names include China aster and annual aster.Gilman, E. F. and T. Howe''Callistephus ch ...

''. Regardless of the taxonomic change, most are still widely referred to as "asters", or " Michaelmas daisies", because of their typical blooming period.

Species

Plants of the World Online accepts 10 species, as of June 2022. The species formerly known as ''Aster tripolium'' (sea aster) is now ''

Tripolium pannonicum ''Tripolium pannonicum'', called sea aster or seashore aster and often known by the synonyms ''Aster tripolium'' or ''Aster pannonicus'', is a flowering plant, native to Eurasia and northern Africa, that is confined in its distribution to salt ma ...

''. The species formerly known as ''Aster linosyris'' (goldilocks) is now ''

Galatella linosyris ''Galatella linosyris'' (also called goldilocks aster, and often known by the synonyms ''Aster linosyris'' and ''Crinitaria linosyris'') is a species of perennial plant from family Asteraceae found in Eastern, Central and Southern Europe. It can ...

''. Many species and a variety of hybrids and varieties are popular as garden plants because of their beautiful, attractive and colourful flowers. ''Aster'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of a number of

species—see list of Lepidoptera that feed on ''Aster''. Asters can grow in all hardiness zones. Some species are: *''

Aster ageratoides Aster or ASTER may refer to: Biology * ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants ** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English * Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure shap ...

'' – rough-surface aster *''

Aster alpinus ''Aster alpinus'', the alpine aster or blue alpine daisy, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the mountains of Europe (including the Alps), with a subspecies native to Canada and the United States. This herbaceous ...

'' – alpine aster *''

Aster altaicus ''Aster altaicus'' is a species of plant belonging to the family Asteraceae. Its native range is Temperate Asia The World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions (WGSRPD) is a biogeographical system developed by the internatio ...

'' *''

'' – European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster *''

Aster arenarius Aster or ASTER may refer to: Biology * ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants ** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English * Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure sha ...

'' – beach-sand aster *''

Aster bellidiastrum ''Aster bellidiastrum'' (also known as false aster) is a species of perennial plant from the family Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera w ...

'' *''

Aster fastigiatus Aster or ASTER may refer to: Biology * ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants ** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English * Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure sha ...

'' – highly-branch aster *''

Aster glehnii Aster or ASTER may refer to: Biology * ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants ** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English * Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure shap ...

'' – Ulleungdo aster *''

Aster hayatae Aster or ASTER may refer to: Biology * ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants ** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English * Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure shap ...

'' – Korean montane aster *''Aster hispidus'' *''

Aster iinumae Aster or ASTER may refer to: Biology * ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants ** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English * Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure shap ...

'' – perennial false aster *''

Aster incisus Aster or ASTER may refer to: Biology * ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants ** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English * Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure shap ...

'' – incised-leaf aster *''

Aster lautureanus ''Boltonia lautureana '' is an East Asian species of plants in the family Asteraceae. It is native to China, Japan, Korea, and Asiatic Russia. ''Boltonia lautureana '' is a plant up to 100 cm (40 inches) tall. It has many daisy-like flower ...

'' – connected aster, mountain aster *''

Aster maackii ''Aster maackii'' is a plant species belonging to the family Asteraceae. The species is described in 1861 by Eduard August von Regel. The species is named after Russian naturalist Richard Maack Richard Otto Maack (also Richard Karlovic Maak, ...

'' – Maack's aster *''

Aster magnus Aster or ASTER may refer to: Biology * ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants ** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English * Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure sha ...

'' – magnus aster *''

Aster neoelegans ''Aster neoelegans'' is a species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is found in Bhutan, China and India. References External links * ''Aster neoelegans''at Tropicos ''Aster neoelegans''at The Plant List The Plant List was a ...

'' *''

Aster quitensis ''Aster quitensis'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also term ...

'' *''

Aster spathulifolius ''Aster spathulifolius'' ( ko, 해국]/haeguk, known in English as seashore spatulate aster) is a native Korean flowering plant that grows on seashores. Due to its short height and thick leaves, haeguk endures strong wind and coldness. It produc ...

'' – seashore spatulate aster *''

Aster tataricus ''Aster tataricus'', also called Tatarinow's aster, is a member of the ''Aster'' genus of flowering plants. Uses Culinary Known as ''gaemichwi'' () in Korean, the plant is considered a ''chwinamul'' (edible ''Aster'') variety used in Korean cu ...

'' – Tatarian aster, Tatarinow's aster *''

Aster tonglingensis Aster or ASTER may refer to: Biology * ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants ** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English * Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure sha ...

'' *''

Aster tongolensis ''Aster tongolensis'' is a plant species of the genus ''Aster''. Along with '' Aster souliei'', it has been used in traditional Tibetan medicine for thousands of years as treatment for bronchitis, difficulty in urinating, and hemoptysis Hemop ...

'' *''

Aster yomena ''Aster yomena'' (syn. ''Kalimeris yomena''), the kalimeris or Japanese aster, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Korea and Japan. Locals occasionally collect its young leaves and cook them as a leaf vegetable. A ...

Hybrids and cultivars

Those marked have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

. *''

Aster × frikartii ''Aster × frikartii'' (or ''Aster frikartii''), called Frikart's aster, is a hybrid of European Michaelmas daisy, ''Aster amellus'', and Thomson's aster, '' Aster thomsonii'' (from the western Himalayas). It was created by Swiss plant breeder Ca ...

'' (''A. amellus'' × ''A. thomsonii'') Frikart's aster **''Aster'' × ''frikartii'' 'Mönch' **''A.'' × ''frikartii'' 'Wunder von Stäfa' *'Kylie' (''A. novae-angliae'' 'Andenken an Alma Pötschke' × ''A. ericoides'' 'White Heather') *'Ochtendgloren' (''A. pringlei'' hybrid) *'Photograph'

In history

The Hungarian revolution of 31 October 1918, became known as the " Aster Revolution" due to protesters in Budapest wearing this flower.

In culture

One of the few flowers left around Michaelmas in the British Isles is the Michaelmas daisy (another name for asters), hence the rhyme: "The Michaelmas daisies, among dead weeds, Bloom for St Michael's valorous deeds..."

References

{{Authority control Asteraceae genera Garden plants Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus