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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Bushy Aster

 
Aster identification can be a bit mysterious. They tend to look a lot alike, so you really have to pay attention to the leaves. For example, I've been thinking this one was a different blue aster (I won't say which one because it will just confuse all of us). But tonight I got serious about details, and determined that it is Bushy Aster, Aster dumosus.

bushy aster

Its flowers are about an inch across, and light blue to lavender. Its growth habit is, well, bushy... a lot like Calico Aster (but that one is white, and the flowers are smaller).

bushy aster

It grows around the Great Lakes region, and likes sandy soil. That's a given, here. Now, I have to work at telling the difference in the leaves from the Calico Aster, since they are both many-branched and bushy.

See Calico Aster
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5 comments:

Ann said...

This is one that I see all over the place around here. I never knew what it was called before though

Shelly said...

They almost look like daisies.

Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly

http://www.shellysnovicewritings.blogspot.com/

Secondary Roads said...

They are very pretty. I don't see them around here where the soil is rich in clay.

rainfield61 said...

Flowers are always beautiful.

Sharkbytes said...

Ann- there are some other blue asters that look very similar, so check those leaves!

Shelly- They really do!

Chuck- Do you have other blue asters though?

rainfield- Definitely can't argue with that!