New York aster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New York aster |
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Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, often called the New York aster, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, which includes many daisy-like flowers. People also know these plants as Michaelmas daisy because they bloom around September 29th, which is St. Michael’s Day.
The scientific name novi-belgii means "New Belgium." This name comes from the 17th-century Dutch colony called New Netherland. This area is now mostly New York State.
You can find Symphyotrichum novi-belgii growing in old fields and wet meadows. It grows naturally in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.
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Where It Grows
The New York aster is native to North America. It grows in many different areas.
Native Regions
- Eastern Canada: You can find it in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec.
- Northeastern United States: It grows in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
- Southeastern United States: It is also found in Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Growing New York Asters
People love to grow New York asters in their gardens. They are part of the largest group of Michaelmas daisies. There are over 1,000 different types, called cultivars.
Why Gardeners Love Them
These plants are popular because they add beautiful color in late summer. Their flowers come in shades of blue, pink, and white. They are very tough plants and can grow well in many places.
Best Growing Conditions
New York asters grow best in sunny spots. They need open areas to thrive. While they are strong, they can sometimes get fungal infections. This happens more often if the growing conditions are not perfect.
Some types of New York asters have even won awards. For example, the 'Coombe Fishacre' and 'Fellowship' varieties have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This award means they are excellent garden plants.
Name Origin
The specific part of the plant's scientific name, Novi-belgii, has an interesting history.
Meaning of the Name
The word Novi-belgii comes from Latin. It means "from New York". This is because the area we now call New York was once known as Novum Belgium, or "New Belgium," by early European settlers.
