Our Asters of to-day range in size from the dwarfs, 6 to 12 inches high,
to half dwarfs, 15 to 18 inches tall, and tall sorts, 20 inches to 2
feet in height. There are three leading types of flowers. (1)
Rose-flowered, shaped and imbricated like a blooded rose, the outer
petals reflexed or rolled back, and the inner ones slightly recurved.
This type of flower is much prized by those who like regularity of
petals. They are as perfect as though moulded and shaped out of wax. (2)
Peony-flowered, large blossoms with incurved petals, making a
globe-shaped flower. (3) Chrysanthemum-flowered, with closely arranged,
informal petals, sometimes curled and feathered to a high degree. Beside
there are quilled, ball, and tassel Asters, etc., modifications or
sports of the types mentioned.
The Aster is a showy flower, and grows well for those who treat it well,
in any climate or country. They come into bloom in late midsummer and
last until frost, one of the scarcest times in the year for really good
flowers. It is fine for exhibition at flower shows, and is useful as a
cut flower. For all of these reasons the Aster would be a standard
flower. Their great popularity is based, however, on two qualifications
not mentioned above, and both of which they possess in a superlative
degree. These qualities are great beauty of flower and a wonderful
diversity and perfection of coloring.
A well grown Aster is simply magnificent. The Chrysanthemum is
acknowledged to be the queen of autumn. Nevertheless more than one
unscrupulous florist has palmed off great fluffy white blooms of Asters
as those of Queen Chrysanthemum herself. Size, form, color and substance
go to make up a superbly beautiful flower without a trace of coarseness
or gaudiness about it. In poetical language their flowers symbolize both
bounty and cheerfulness in old age.
No one but an artist should attempt to describe an Aster's colors. There
are nearly thirty shades in Truffaut's Peony-flowered Asters. Victoria
Asters can be purchased under twenty-four separate colors. Other
sections show still other shades, to say nothing of those with white
crowns and colored borders, and those with striped and silver-tipped
flowers.
[Illustration: A BED OF MIXED VARIETIES OF ASTERS]
Only the drifted snow can compare with the purity of a white Aster. It
has those spotless flowers that bring thoughts of heaven. Asters have
many blue and lavender tints. None of them are muddy, or metallic, or
dingy, as are too many blues and lavenders. They show the blue of a June
sky, or the blue of the amethyst, or the color of the lilac of spring,
together with soft lavenders, pale blues and deep indigo. Sulphur and
primrose tints are the nearest yellow, but in reds they run the gamut
from rosy flesh and palest apple-blossom through shell pink, peach,
rose, carmine, scarlet and blood red to deepest crimson. Many of the
pink shades are exquisitely beautiful. Only the pure whites can surpass
them.