Symphyotrichum, Bushy Aster, Rice Button Aster 'Wood's Blue'

I bought the "dwarf" version of this plant but there's nothing dwarf about it. While the flowers were pretty and it's a hardy plant, it's...Read More a little too hardy and started taking over my butterfly garden. I've only had it one year. I ended up digging alot of it up but left the main part and am giving it through the summer to decide if I get rid of it or not.

I planted these aster late last summer and they grew well and got established without a problem. They also had attractive foliage and fl...Read Moreowers. This spring I have noticed a rust problem developing on one of my plants. I have read repeatedly that this cultivar is rust resistant or free. Only one of my plants seems to show symptoms so I am monitoring it and using systemic fungicide. So far it doesnt appear to be an overwhelming problem.

Invasive!
I originally bought this plant back in May of 09, planted it and by July a few months later, although still green, I cou...Read Moreldn't see that it grew at all. So I dig it back up, believing I got all the roots...didn't seem like much anyway, and replaced it with 'Purple Dome' Aster. that worked out great...til it was the end October. the 'Purple Dome' grew fabulously...BUT I started to notice shoots of this Woods Blue Aster 2-3' in every direction from where I originally dug it up...AGH! So now, this Spring, I am going to have to use round up in hopes I can tame the beast. I have now Woods Blue growing completely around the 'Purple Dome' and it's starting to invade other plants!!!!

Aster - Michaelmas or Easter Daisy, Aster
Native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere (most numerous in North America),...Read More this large genus of perennials and deciduous or evergreen subshrubs contains over 250 species, ranging in height from miniatures suitable for rock gardens to 6' giants. The leaves are simple and mostly smooth-edged, sometimes hairy, often quite small. Showy, daisy-like flowerheads are usually produced in late summer or fall in a wide range of colors, inluding blue, violet, purple, pink, red and white, all with a central disc of yellow or purple. There are many aster cultilvars once listed under the parent species, but this has become too complex and many now stand alone. A typical example is Aster 'Coombe's Violet'. The 'China asters' grown as bedding annuals are now placed in the genus Callistephus.
Cultivation: Easily grown, they prefer sun (or part-shade in hot areas) in a well-drained soil, preferably enriched with compost. Keep moist at all times and shelter from strong winds and stake the taller species. Cut the long stems down to ground level and tidy the clumps when the flowers have faded. Propagate by division in spring or late fall, or from softwood cuttings in spring. Divide plants every 2 to 3 years, using the most vigorous outer part. Powdery mildew, rust, aphids and snails can be a problem.