Aster fastigiatus
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Aster
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.6 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies, Beetles, Lepidoptera, Self
Uses
Edible uses
Young leaves - boiled[2].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
Febrifuge. The root is used in the treatment of dysentery, epilepsy, plague and to allay the effects of overeating[4][6].
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea, Siberia.
- Habitat
- Waste places, especially by rivers, in lowland C. and S. Japan[9]. Swamps and wet grassland[8].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 2+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - surface sow in spring in a cold frame. Do not allow the compost to become dry. Pre-chilling the seed for two weeks can improve germination rates[3]. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks at 20°c[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn[5].
Cultivation
Succeeds in most good garden soils[1], preferring one that is well-drained and moisture retentive[5]. Prefers a sunny position[5]. There is some confusion over nomenclature, the reports below on the plants uses could refer to A. fastigiatus. Ledeb. non Fisch. which is a synonym for A. haupti. Ledeb[5]. Most species in this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[7]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[5].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Flora of Japan www.foj.info
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00