Aster is also known as Aster, Green Aster, Purple Sin, Pigtails, Return to Soul, Mountain Cabbage, and Night Petunia.

Aster, Asteraceae aster, perennial herb. Aster 1-1.5m high, stem erect, basal leaves clustered, long elliptic, base tapering into a winged stalk, edge serrate, both sides sparsely hispid, petiole long. Cauline leaves alternate, ovate or long elliptic. Heads arranged in corymbs, long pedicellate, densely covered with short hairs. Involucre hemispherical, involucral bracts 3-layered, margin purplish red. Ligulate flowers blue-purple, tubular flowers yellow.

The aster is born on shady slopes, grasslands, riversides, preferring a warm and humid climate, resistant to waterlogging, afraid of drought, strong cold tolerance, winter temperatures -20 ℃ when the root can be safely overwintered. The soil requirements are not strict, except for saline and sandy soil can be planted.

Propagation and cultivation

Aster is a small variety of commonly used domestic species, the original wild, has been rare. Due to production instability, market fluctuations are more frequent, especially in recent years, production continues to shrink, man-made participation in the increase in the frequency and magnitude of changes in the market is greater, over the historical record of the market continues to appear. Aster annual demand is about 1000 tons.

The aster is a perennial herb, preferring a warm and humid climate, with a fear of drought, cold-tolerant characteristics. new production begins in October, spring and fall can be planted, mainly in the fall. Aster is propagated by seedlings, and expansion is slow. To be lazy, planting aster, aster harvested the second year will continue to seedlings, but by the seed source degradation, can not recrop and other reasons, the second year of production greatly reduced, only to harvest about 200 kilograms, while the new ground new seedlings in the first year can be produced 300 kilograms of dry products.