Aster (Aster 'Little Carlow')
Discover Aster 'Little Carlow', a low-maintenance perennial featuring sky blue Aster flowers blooming late summer through fall in zones 4-8.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Aster ‘Little Carlow’ is a standout hybrid cherished for injecting brilliant late-season color into the landscape when many other perennials are fading. This variety brightens the garden with masses of daisy-like flowers featuring captivating sky blue ray petals surrounding sunny yellow disks, distinguishing it from the more common purple asters. As a dependable herbaceous perennial, Aster ‘Little Carlow’ offers significant visual impact without demanding excessive attention, fitting perfectly into busy gardening schedules. Its compact habit provides excellent structure, making it a go-to choice for reliable autumn blooms and foundational garden structure.
This cultivar is a hybrid born from crosses involving Aster cordifolius and Aster novi-belgii, inheriting robust growing traits. Typically reaching about 2 feet tall and wide, Aster ‘Little Carlow’ generally manages its size well, though proper cultural attention ensures optimal density. Its primary value lies in its low maintenance requirements and superior late-season performance, ensuring the garden remains vibrant through the shift into fall.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1.5-2 ft
- Spread: 1.5-2 ft
- Bloom Time: September to October
- Bloom Description: Blue rays and yellow center disks
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Aster ‘Little Carlow’ in the spring or fall once the danger of hard frost has passed, ensuring it receives full sun exposure for the best flower production. This Aster prefers organically rich, average soil that is consistently moist but crucially well-drained. Good air circulation is vital to maintaining healthy foliage and minimizing common fungal issues common to many aster varieties.
Watering needs for this plant are medium; aim for consistent moisture, especially during dry spells, ensuring the soil drains effectively to prevent root saturation. While generally low maintenance, pinching back the stems several times before mid-July encourages a bushier, more compact habit, which prevents flopping later in the season. Thinning out some central stems during the summer summer further improves air flow around the lower foliage.
After the main bloom period in late fall, plants may be cleanly cut back to the ground. Protect the root systems over winter through heavy mulch application, especially in colder zones, though this plant is typically quite resilient. Avoiding poorly-drained clay soils is a key cultural practice to help circumvent potential issues like Aster wilt.
Landscape Uses
Aster ‘Little Carlow’ excels anywhere a compact burst of late-season blue is desired against the backdrop of waning summer gardens. Its manageable height makes it an excellent choice for borders, providing excellent color contrast against tall ornamental grasses or late-flowering goldenrods. For those designing structured beds, it functions wonderfully as a robust perennial edging plant along walkways or paths, clearly defining garden lines.
Because of its moderate size and bright coverage, this Aster variety is also highly recommended for dedicated butterfly gardens, providing essential late-season nectar when migrating species need it most. Furthermore, it adapts well to container gardening; simply ensure the pot used is large enough to accommodate its 1.5 to 2-foot spread and that consistent drainage is maintained throughout the growing season.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Asters are the mainstay of many fall gardens producing daisy-like flowers. The genus name comes from the Latin word aster meaning star for the shape of the flowers. ‘Little Carlow’ is a hybrid between cultivars of Aster cordifolius and Aster novi-belgii. It typically grows to 2’ tall with a similar spread, featuring clusters of 1-1.5” diameter sky blue asters which bloom beautifully in the fall.
Tolerances
(No data provided in the source JSON for Tolerances)
Potential Problems
Aster ‘Little Carlow’ is fortunately known for having no serious insect or disease problems when grown in appropriate conditions. The most commonly observed issue is susceptibility to powdery mildew, which manifests as a dusty white coating on the leaves, particularly when air circulation is poor or humidity is high. To manage this, ensure adequate spacing and practice the summer thinning recommended for improved air flow. Aster wilt is an occasional threat, particularly if the plant is situated in heavy, poorly-drained clay soils; proper soil preparation and drainage are the best preventative measures against this soil-borne pathogene.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Aster ‘Little Carlow’ suitable for?
Aster ‘Little Carlow’ is generally hardy and suitable for growing in USDA Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Aster ‘Little Carlow’ grow?
This cultivar typically matures to a height between 1.5 and 2 feet, with a corresponding spread of 1.5 to 2 feet wide.
When does Aster ‘Little Carlow’ bloom?
You can expect radiant blooms from September straight through to October, showing off blue rays and yellow center disks.
What sun exposure does Aster ‘Little Carlow’ need?
For best results, this Aster requires a location that receives Full sun exposure throughout the day.
Conclusion
Aster ‘Little Carlow’ provides exceptional value to the late-season garden, offering low maintenance care combined with striking, reliable blue blooms. This specific Aster cultivar ensures garden vibrancy well into the autumn months, attracting late pollinators. Assess your site conditions now; check your zone compatibility and plan your planting for spring or fall to enjoy the star-shaped flowers of Aster ‘Little Carlow’ next season.
Companion Planting
Selecting companions for Aster ‘Little Carlow’ should focus on plants that share its need for full sun and medium, well-drained moisture, while offering contrasting textures or bloom times. Pair it with plants that finish blooming in mid-summer, making way for the Aster to take center stage in the fall transition. Good choices include ornamental grasses like Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ or Rudbeckia varieties that provide vertical structure or bold yellow accents near the blue flowers.
Consider groundcovers that won’t compete heavily with the roots of the Aster or block necessary air circulation around its base, which helps combat potential mildew. Plants like Sedum (Stonecrop) varieties, especially those that flower earlier, provide textural contrast at the base without overwhelming the compact 2-foot spread of Aster ‘Little Carlow’.
Wildlife Benefits
While the primary call-to-action for this plant focuses on its aesthetic appeal, its late bloom time offers significant ecological support. The vibrant blue and yellow coloration of the Aster flowers in September and October provides crucial refueling stations for late-season pollinators, especially migrating Monarch butterflies and late-emerging native bees. Asters, in general, are highly ranked by entomologists as invaluable late-season food sources.
Ensure you leave the dried seed heads standing throughout the winter, following the recommended cutting-back-after-flowering advice only once you are sure no wildlife is actively using the structure or seeds. These dry stems can provide important overwintering habitat for beneficial insects, adding an extra layer of environmental benefit to your garden beyond just the beautiful bloom of Aster ‘Little Carlow’.
