Flower Encyclopedia
Aster
Aster novi-belgii
Daisy-like sprays that fill an arrangement with small, star-shaped blooms.
Written by the Burton Floral Design team · Published July 24, 2026
At A Glance
Typical vase life
5–10 days
Availability
Most of the year
Peak months
Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Cost
Budget-friendly
Fragrance
Light
Pollen
Moderate
Care
Easy
Out of water
2–4 hours
Heat tolerance
Moderate
Cold tolerance
Moderate
Outdoor events
Good
Around pets
Lower risk
Pets in the house? Lower risk.
Asters are generally regarded as a lower-risk flower around cats and dogs, though chewing can cause mild stomach upset. No flower should be treated as edible; if a pet chews any arrangement, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control service.
What It Means
The name comes from the Greek word for star, and asters have long stood for love, patience, wisdom, and daintiness. As a late-season bloomer they also carry a note of enduring affection — a flower that keeps going as the year winds down.
Colors it comes in
purple · lavender · pink · white · blue · magenta
Coordinates beautifully with
gold · deep green · white · plum
Season & Sourcing
Widely grown and available through much of the year, with the fullest supply and richest color in late summer and fall. It reads especially at home in autumn arrangements.
Vase life, honestly
A dependable filler that holds five to ten days with clean water. The many small blooms fade at different rates, so pinching off spent flowers keeps the sprays looking tidy.
Fragrance
Fragrance is faint at most; the foliage can carry a mild green scent up close.
Keeping It Alive
- 1Recut stems at an angle and strip the lower foliage that would sit underwater.
- 2Use flower food and change the water every two to three days.
- 3Pinch off spent blooms so the fresher flowers on the spray stand out.
- 4Keep the vase out of direct sun and away from ripening fruit.
- 5Watch the water level, as leafy aster stems drink steadily.
What it costs: An economical filler in most seasons, adding volume for little cost. Prices are lowest at the fall peak, when supply is heaviest.
Where It Shines
At weddings
A budget-friendly filler that adds soft volume and a scattering of small stars between focal flowers, especially in late-summer and fall palettes. Purple and blue varieties bring cool tones that are otherwise hard to source naturally.
In sympathy work
Common in mixed sympathy baskets and standing sprays as a filler that softens the overall shape. White and pale lavender read as gentle and unassuming.
Every day
A cheerful, inexpensive addition to seasonal and everyday bouquets, adding fullness and a wildflower feel. Nice on their own as a casual, unfussy bunch.
Can't Get It? Try
A Little History
Asters are native across North America, Europe, and Asia, and the New York aster commonly grown for cut flowers takes its species name novi-belgii from the old Latin name for the New York region. Long grown as garden and cut flowers, they are a classic late-season bloom prized for extending color into autumn.
Questions People Ask
How long do cut asters last?
About five to ten days with clean water and flower food. Pinching off the small blooms as they fade keeps the sprays looking fresh longer.
Are asters and daisies the same thing?
They are related and share the same daisy-like shape, but asters produce many smaller, star-shaped blooms per stem while true daisies carry larger single flowers. Asters make an easy substitute when you want a similar look with more density.
When are asters at their best?
Late summer through fall, when supply is fullest and the colors are richest. They are available at other times but read most naturally in autumn arrangements.
Are asters a concern around pets?
They are generally considered lower-risk, though chewing can cause mild stomach upset. If a pet chews on an arrangement, a call to your veterinarian is the right move.
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