If you're thinking about creating a perennial bed, be sure to include some asters. These flowering perennials, with their attractive flower heads and radiating petals, bloom from May to November depending on the variety, delighting all garden visitors. Insects also love to visit, enjoying the abundance of nectar, which makes asters an ecological asset to your garden.

Their color spectrum ranges from bright white to shades of pink and red, as well as vibrant blues, offering something for every taste. Their diversity is not only reflected in their varying bloom times but also in the color of their leaves, which can range from turquoise to dark green, and their leaf shape, which can be smooth or toothed. As a result, asters are classified into smooth-leaf asters and rough-leaf asters.

As you fall more in love with your asters over time, you'll be pleased to know that many asters form rhizomes. By dividing these root clumps, you not only rejuvenate your plants but also create new ones. The richly blooming asters look particularly stunning when planted in uniform color groups. You can also vary the individual species, combining taller and shorter varieties for an interesting mix. After all, asters range in height from 20 cm to 140 cm, leaving plenty of room for beautiful creations.

All asters prefer bright to sunny locations with loose, nutrient-rich soil. Twice a year, in spring and autumn, you can fertilize with mature compost to support the plants' growth and blooming.

For example, Aster cordifolius 'Blue Heaven' blooms especially abundantly, with hundreds of blue flowers opening on its roughly 1-meter-long branches in late summer. The variety *'Blütenregen'* truly lives up to its name, with delicately playful, pale purple flowers appearing until late autumn.

A particularly robust white hybrid is Aster 'Chloe', whose center changes from yellow to violet during blooming, creating a particularly attractive display.

Asters also thrive when planted near certain neighbors. Perennials such as Eupatorium, roses, phlox, or even coneflowers and daisies can be planted close by. This ensures that your flower bed will bloom in the most beautiful colors almost all year round.