Great Plant Pick: Aster x frikartii “Jungfrau,” Frikart’s aster

Published 1:30 am Saturday, September 1, 2018

What: Aster x frikartii “Jungfrau” is a sister seedling of Aster x frikartii “Mönch,” and like its sister, it has an extraordinarily long bloom period, from late July into October. Its flower heads have blue-purple ray florets with a central disk of yellow. 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: The perennial grows to be 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide when mature.

Care: Water 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 Steffens, Great Plant Picks