Aster amellus
Family: Asteraceae
Common name: EUROPEAN MICHAELMAS DAISY
Native to: Europe, West Asia
Sentiments: elegance and daintiness, patience
Plant
Type: perennial
Forms: clumping, erect
Max height: 2.3 feet
Max width: 1.5 feet
Flower
magenta/purple, secondary color present, violet
Leaf
green
Horticulture
Attracts wildlife: adult butterfly, bee, bird, specific butterfly species
Plant part consumed by birds: seeds
Plant features: naturalizes
Exposure: sun
Landscape use: container
Propagates by: cutting, division, seed
flowers in fall
flowers in summer
Soil type: loam
USDA Zones: zone 5 to -20 f, zone 6 to -10 f, zone 7 to 0 f, zone 8 to +10 f, zone 9 to +20 f
Temp. range: -20 to +30 °F
Water: regular
Butterflies that feed on this plant
Aster, a member of the Compositae family, is a genus containing 458 species.
This deciduous plant, Aster amellus, is a perennial that grows to nearly 2 1/2 feet tall, flowers in summer and fall, and will naturalize when grown in favorable conditions. It can be cultivated by either cuttings, division of the plant, or by seed. It grows in Zone 5-9 and prefers regular watering. Aster amellus can be grown in a container where its propensity to naturalize is a benefit to encourage you to divide the plant often - put the divided clump in another pot or share with family, neighbors, or a friend.
Aster novi-belgii 'Tiny Tot' stays a diminutive 1/2 foot tall; Aster novi-belgii 'Winston Churchill" grows to 4 feet tall. Aster alpinus and amellus grow to 1-1½ feet high. A broad assortment of Asters will grow in Zones 4-9.
Aster amellus attracts the butterfly Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) to feed in addition to the long list of butterflies that feed on other Aster species. The Red Admiral is shown below nectaring on an Echinacea. Asters attract a very long list of butterflies to feed. Bees will come to this plant as well.
Container plants that attract adult butterflies - perennial
This plant can be grown in a container and will attract and feed adult butterflies. These plant can be found in every height range – from tiny to large – from less than a foot high to over 10 feet tall.
Our database of nectar plants for all US butterflies contains over 10,000 entries. The top five nectar plants -- Cirsium, Lantana, Asclepias, Salvia, and Verbena -- will appeal to 90% of all US butterflies. Pick from these if you want to provide nectar for your local butterflies.
Once you start with these, you can add from another 630 genera in 110 plant families to attract more insects to your garden.
By far the most import butterfly nectar plant family is Asteraceae. If you grow plants in from this family, butterflies will find your garden.
