Great Plant Pick: Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’ aka Frikart’s aster

Published 1:30 am Friday, September 17, 2021

What: Aster x frikartii “Mönch” is a long-blooming aster loaded with lavender-blue flowers from July to October. It has a superior habit with strong stout stems on a well-branched mounded plant. Frikart’s asters stand out in the late summer and autumn seasons, when other plants are starting to fade.

Where: Grow Frikart’s aster in full sun and rich well-drained soil.

Size: This aster will grow to be 3 feet tall and 1-foot-9-inches tall in 10 years.

Care: Water “”Mönch” at least once a week during the dry season. For strong stems, use a minimal amount of fertilizer. Over-fertilizing can cause weak stems. Prune to the ground in autumn once flowering is finished and the leaves start to yellow.

— Richie Steffen,

Great Plant Picks