smooth aster
Symphyotrichum laeve 'Bluebird'
Cycle:
Herbaceous Perennial
Watering:
Minimum
Propagation:
Division,Cutting,Layering Propagation,Seed Propagation,Grafting Propagation
Hardiness Zone:
4 - 8
Flowers:
Violet blue rays with yellow center Flowers
Sun:
Full sun
Leaf:
Yes
Leaf Color:
green
Growth Rate:
Low
Maintenance:
Low
Drought Tolerant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Care Level:
Medium
watering
Smooth Aster does best when watered deeply but infrequently. Water in the morning so that the foliage has time to dry out during the day to reduce the risk of diseases. Water this plant when the top inch of soil becomes dry, and water until the soil is completely saturated. It's important to not over-water - saturating the soil and then allowing it to dry out completely will help promote healthy root growth. During the hottest summer months, water 1-2 times a week. In cooler months, watering every 10-14 days should suffice.
sunlight
Smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laeve 'Bluebird') plants prefer a full sun to partial shade environment when planted outdoors. For best results, this plant species should be planted in a location that receives 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. This plant species tends to thrive in hot climates, so giving it direct sunlight in the morning and late afternoon is ideal. Sunlight will help to encourage the growth of strong, blooming flowers that will light up any garden.
pruning
Smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laeve 'Bluebird') should be pruned once a year in late winter or early spring, before the plant begins to regrow. The ideal time to prune smooth aster is after it has finished blooming in the fall but before it begins actively growing in the spring. During the pruning process, remove spent flower heads and any dead, diseased, or damaged stems from the plant. Prune back vigorous stems to the desired size and shape to manage the size of the plant and keep it from becoming overly sprawling. Take care not to prune more than 1-third of the plant to avoid overly stressful pruning.
