Aster novi-belgii ‘Fellowship’ (New York Aster)

Aster novi-belgii ‘Fellowship’ (New York Aster) features masses of large, beautifully shaped, pale pink, double flowers, up to 2.25 in. wide (6 cm), with nicely quill-shaped ray petals. As the flowers mature, they start resembling soft pompons as their many petals delicately twist and turn to enclose their fresh lime-green center. Borne on slender, branched stems bearing lance-shaped, dark green leaves, they bloom for weeks from late summer to late fall and enliven any sunny corner of the garden. Native to North America, it is easy to grow, long-lived, brings cheerful fall color, and is a great source of nectar for butterflies.

• Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its noteworthy qualities.
• Typically grows with an upright, bushy habit, up to 40 in. tall (100 cm) and 20 in. wide (50 cm). It may need staking. Deer and rabbit resistant!
• Thrives in full sun or partial shade, in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Moist, rich soils are preferred. Provide good air circulation to avoid foliage diseases such as powdery mildew. Drought, salt, and wet soil tolerant.
• A vital ingredient of late summer and fall borders, cottage gardens, coastal gardens, or butterfly gardens. New York Asters are also valued for the excellent quality of their cut flowers.
• Asters are a must if you are trying to attract birds or butterflies!
• Propagate by division in spring. Divide every third year to maintain vigor. Pinching back several times in early summer will help develop more compact and bushy plants,
• Sometimes susceptible to powdery mildew.
• Cut back in late fall.

Aster novi-belgii, commonly known as New York Aster, belongs to the Asteraceae family, which also includes yarrows, chrysanthemums, and sunflowers. The Genus Aster contains over 600 species and thousands of hybrid varieties, providing a wide choice to pick from, as they all vary in habit, height, flower color, leaf shape, and growing conditions. The flowers of New York Asters are always held in sprays rather than individually and provide an outstanding late-season show.