In today’s post we’re going to talk about the Aster family and this is going to be a pretty big article so you might want to get some refreshments. The Aster Family is scientifically known as Asteraceae, however in older publications it was known as the Compositae. The species was first described in 1740 and given its original name because of how the flowers were essentially made of a composite numerous parts. The core aspect of identifying a member of the aster family is that the flowers have petals, but at the center of the flower is a tightly packed array of tiny flowers called florets. Each of the florets is a flower by itself producing its own pollen, nectar and eventually a seed. Basically when it comes to sexual reproduction Asters operate on producing a larger quantity of seeds to ensure species survival. The family as a whole has more than 32,000 known species spread across about 1,900 genera. The number of species in the genera is only rivaled by the Orchids. Common names for the family also include referring to is as the Daisy, and Sunflower Family. Biologically speaking an aster come in all life cycle types and may be annual, biennial or, perennial or some type in between. Generally asters are considered herbaceous meaning that if they are perennial or biennial they die back to the ground and return from their roots each year. With a species this massive and diverse however it would be impossible to cover them all so in terms of companion planting below is a list of the Aster family members you are most likely to encounter and their uses in your garden.
Artichokes
There are three a types of Artichoke that are generally sold in the nursery trade. The Common Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) is the one you see sold at the store in a variety of forms, but the Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthis tuberosus) is almost exclusively found in the produce aisle in the form of a bag of tubers. Cardoons (Cynara cardunculus) are sold as plants at some garden centers but can be found in some seed racks in the spring. In general Artichokes and Cardoons both pair well with Peas, Beans, Borage, Arugula, Kale and Onions. Just keep in mind that Artichoke and Cardoon Plants can get pretty big in a season and give them a foot or more of space on all sides. Jerusalem Artichokes are a different animal as it is best to keep them confined to containers as their tuberous roots can rapidly spread and become invasive. They do however pair well with plants that can climb up their stalks which can be up to eight feet tall so things like Field Peas, Pole Beans and, Cucumbers can grow in the same large containers with them.
Aster, New England
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novaeo-angilae) has a few herbal and medicinal uses but isn’t noted to pair well with the common garden plants that you would expect. This Aster is noted to work best in a sort of Cottage/wild garden role with things like Golden Rod and Joe Pye Weed as well as with other asters such as Echinacea and Rudbeckia.
Black-Eye Susan
The Rudbeckia Family is a very important group of flowering asters that help pollinator populations as they provide pollen, nectar and foliage for specific species of insects’ larvae. Generally speaking you can plant them anywhere and at worst you might have to do a little bit of culling to keep them in their area, but they pair well with most things.
Burdock
Burdock (Arctium lappa) is one of those old-school medicinal herbs that generally is grown by folks in the know about it’s useful properties such as managing Diabetes. It pairs well with Legumes because of their Nitrogen-fixing ability, but all the primary aromatic herbs and Garlic.
Chamomile
The two Chamomiles are garden essentials for anyone planning to have a functional herb garden though they are a bit sensitive in our climate due to our heat. Chamomile is available in two forms, German (Matricaria chamomilla) which is annual, and Roman (Chamaemelum nobile) which is perennial. Interestingly the two have different aromas and flavors, the German Chamomile has more herbal and grassy, Roman Chamomile is sweeter and more apple-like in flavor and scent. Roman Chamomile should be considered a short-lived perennial in our climate as it lasts an up to three years before it finally falls apart. Chamomile as a companion plant pairs well with the cabbage family Onions and Fruit trees.
Chicory
Chicory (Chichorium intybus) is a big deal when you’re talking about the Aster Family because many people have ate or drank chicory and had no idea it was happening. The most famous use of Chicory is in Luzianne Coffee which uses about 33% Chicory. But Chicory has a strong foothold in the produce aisle and in every salad you eat. The most common forms are Raddichio (Chichorium intybus var. foliosum), Endive (Chichorium endivia), Escarole (Chichorium endivia var. latifolium) and, Frisee (Chichorium endivia var. crispum). For companion planting purposes Chicory does well when paired with Peas, Beans and Root vegetables. Chicory has a taproot and will not do well if transplanted a lot but also will handle drought and nutrient deficiencies in the soil better than most herbs and leaf greens will.
Coneflower
In general on the seed rack and at the garden center you will only find one species of Coneflower, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). However it might not look very purple because with serious levels of cultivation we’ve brought out an array of colors that decidedly are not purple. At a high end garden center you might find Narrow-Leaf Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia), Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa), Giant Coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima), Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia lacinata) or even Pale Coneflower (Echinacea pallida). Coneflowers are generally used on Companion Planting because they bring in the pollinators but they also pair up with almost anything just as long as there isn’t a soil type mismatch.
Cosmos
Cosmos (Cosmos species) is generally broken down into two groupings, (Cosmos bipinnatus) and (Cosmos sulphureus). The former produces flowers that tend to be in the range of White, Pink and Red, while the latter produces colors in the Yellow-Orange spectrum with some varieties sporting bright red-orange. It is worth mentioning a third species called Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) produces intensely dark red-brown flowers that take the range of colors for this genus of flowers even further. As far as Companion planting is concerned Cosmos are generally used for their ability to attract pollinators and as a cut flower. In of that they can be planted between Tomatoes or Peppers to bring in predatory insects to counter pests that would otherwise cause you problems.
Daisy, Gerber
Gerber Daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) are generally bought, sold and grown as a pure ornamental, but the big showy flowers still attract pollinators. They generally pair well with other flowering plants such as Petunias, Dwarf Zinnias, or Purselane/Portulaca which forms a flowering block of plants that no pollinator can resist.
Dandelion
Dandelions are often considered the bane of the lawn care industry’s existence and while the Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is not native to North America, it is here and isn’t going anywhere. It’s equally non-native cousins the Pink (Taraxacum pseudoroseum) and White (Taraxacum albidum) Dandelions give us new color options. The Cat’s Ear Dandelion (Hypochaeris radicata) is also not native but similarly useful. However the False Dandelion which is also called Carolina Desert-Chicory (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus) is native and has all the same uses. Dandelions are useful because they still support the pollinator population and the False Dandelion is geared towards the native pollinators making it especially useful. The main use of a Dandelion is its foliage first and it’s taproot second. As such Dandelions are strong accumulators of soil nutrients and as such will pair well with Nightshade crops, Apple trees and other leafy greens.
Fall Mums
Fall Mums (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) have had a name change in the last ten years, they used to be Dendranthema morifolium and before that they were just a chrysanthemum and now they’re back to being a chrysanthemum. Fall mums specifically refer to the Chrysanthemums that are typically sold in September through November. If planted in the ground or in a much larger pot then they came in and, cared for there is a chance they will return the next year as a solid perennial. The main advantage of these plants is that they do bring in Pollinators as far as companion plants go chrysanthemums do not have a specific pairing noted and should be considered just for their pollinator support use.
Feverfew & Tansy
Some books and online guides confuse Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) for Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) probably because of their Latin names. The difference is that Feverfew is used herbal-medicinally for migraine-headaches, nausea, and arthritis and fever reduction. Feverfew pairs well with other conventional herbs such as Basil. Chives and Thyme. Tansy is used herbal-medicinal for a different set of problems; intestinal parasites, digestive issues and, rheumatism. The issue with Tansy is that it has a high Thujone content which means it should be used externally only. Tansy is known as a good companion plant for Peaches, Roses, Raspberries, Blackberries, Grapes and other Cane fruits.
Lettuce
I bet some of you were not expecting to see Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in this list. The lettuce you buy at the store is actually a daisy it’s just rare anyone ever gets to see it bloom so the point can be solidly proven. Lettuce’s wild cousins include Tall Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola) and Bitter Lettuce (Lactuca virosa). All of the aforementioned wild lettuces are edible if the leaves are picked before they mature and the entire thing gets bitter. Lettuce in general pairs well with the entire Onion family, Radishes, Carrots, Beets, Swiss Chard and any tall plant that can cast a little shade to help keep the lettuces cool.
Marigold
Much like with Lettuce some folks forget that Marigolds are Asters. It might be because the cup-like base of the flowers and the way the petals sit while the center is packed tightly and doesn’t quite look like your conventional Daisy. Regardless Marigolds are one of the America’s biggest contributions to what it means to be and aster. There are three plants that are commonly called a Marigold; the American Marigold (Tagetes erecta), the French Marigold (Tagetes patula) and the Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) which is a Marigold in common name only. The African and French Marigolds have a reputation for repelling pests which makes them useful around food crops such as Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Potatoes, and Cabbage Crops. Since both the American and French Marigolds are annuals, there are a few Perennial options such as Lemmon’s Marigold (Tagetes lemmonii) and Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes lucida). The Calendula or Pot Marigold has the same pairing preferences but is something you are most likely going to have to grow from seed.
Thistle, Milk
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) is a biennial plant with a bunch of herbal and medicinal uses. It has deep reaching roots that can help break up compacted soil but it needs a little space as it can get as big as an artichoke in about the same amount of time. It’s best companions are the aromatic herbs such as Sage, Rosemary, Lavender or Thyme.
Safflower
You don’t see many gardeners growing Safflower (Cathamus tinctorius) these days, but the flowers are worth it. Safflower pairs best with other plants that love full sun and dry conditions such as Zinnias, Cosmos, Lavender, Sage, Rosemary and Garlic. Safflower is used to make natural pigments, and its petals and seeds are used medicinally.
Sweet Leaf
The miracle sweetener (Stevia rebaudiana) is a tender perennial and if you look very closely at its tiny white flowers its membership in the Aster family is without doubt. We all know Stevia because its leaves contain a sugar-like substitute and thus dried leaves can be used to sweeten things without causing diabetic issues. In companion planting, Stevia pairs well with Nasturtiums, Thyme, Oregano and Basil.
Sunflower, Common
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are one of those plants that everyone tries to grow at some point in their gardening journey because if you’ve ever seen a field full of them they look amazing. Sunflowers come in a variety of heights, color and now you can even get cousins of the annual sunflower that are perennial. Sunflowers pair well with Melons, Cucumbers, vining Beans, Peas, Squash and large gourds. Some sources suggest they produce more seeds when paired with the Nightshade family.
Sunflower, Mexican
Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia) are not like their cousin; they get tall and bushy over the course of a summer and may need support. Despite this Mexican Sunflowers also produce a lot of flowers and come in a range of yellow, Orange and red blooming options. Tithonia pairs well with the same things regular Sunflowers do, but need more room horizontally.
Wormwood, Common
Wormwood (Atemisia absinthium) is an herb with a long history which I suggest you look into because it won’t fit here. I will say that it is a critical ingredient in Absinthe, and apparently it repels critters, flea beetls and cabbage moths which makes it a great companion for your Cabbage family crops. A solution of it can be used as a spray to get fleas off your pets and furry farm animals which makes it super-useful. Wormwood’s cousin Santonica (Artemisia cina) is used medicinally to expel worms from the intestine. Another cousin known as Southern Wormwood (Artimisia abrotanum) has a more pleasant lemony aroma but all the same uses as traditional wormwood plus when used as a medicinal tonic it can help digestive and liver health.
Yarrow, Common
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a well-known medicinal herb that has a bunch of uses including as a forage food. I have to specify that the type I am talking about here is the white-flowering type that has a propensity via underground stolons to get loose. Yarrow as a whole has been heavily cultivated to a point that the ones at the Nursery have different colored flowers but may have lost their chief value as a herbal-medicinal plant. Yarrow is noted in a few places as being more of a giver in that it helps improve nearby plant’s resistance to insects and their ability to survive adverse conditions.
Zinnia
Zinnias (Zinnia species) are a genus of flowering plants that are typically grown from seed but may also be purchased as plants at nurseries and garden centers. They come in a wide range of flower colors such as green, white, yellow, pink, red, orange, purple and even bi or tri-color types. The flower shapes can range from single to semi-single, double and even triple petal forms making them especially versatile in the garden. Zinnias are a powerful attractor of Pollinators but also pair well with the Nightshade family, Cucumbers, Melons and other annual vine fruit.
With all of this said I am certain that there are some asters that didn’t make the cut due to oversight or as part of the effort to keep this article short. As I write this final part here, this article is five pages long and has almost thirteen-thousand characters not counting spaces and that’s well over the character limit for Nextdoor and the other places I’d normally post this information. The discussion of the Mint Family which is up next will be longer and might need to be broken up into parts for the sake of easy reading. I hope all of you out there find this post interesting and useful, if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment. Thank you for reading.
