Aster: The Star Of September
Hello Weekly Whorlers! This week we check in with Aster, a literal star of the fall garden and the September Flower of the Month! These vibrant little stars are popping up everywhere and have been a symbol of myth, magic and healing across the world for centuries.
How We Got Here: The History Of The Aster
The Aster, native to Eurasia and North America is a genus of flower that thrives in arid regions. It is commonly known as the Daisy and has over 600 species known. The name itself comes from the Greek word for Star and its radiating petals mimic its namesake.
In ancient Greece and Rome, Asters were highly valued and associated with powerful gods and goddesses. One myth associates the tears of Astraea falling from the goddess's eyes and growing an Aster where they fell to the ground. They are considered sacred plants and were commonly used in ceremonies and rituals.
Traditional Chinese Medicine commonly used the roots to treat a variety of ailments from coughs and fevers to headaches and venereal diseases.
Native American Tribes utilized Asters for both medicinal and culinary practices. The roots were made into soups and the leaves were consumed as greens. Medicinal infusions would treat stomachaches, earaches, and skin rashes, and some tribes even use the plant as a "reviver of consciousness" in sweat lodges.
In the Victorian Era the Aster became known as a flower symbolizing patience, love and elegance, and in France they are often a symbol of remembrance and placed on the graves of fallen soldiers.
Interesting Uses
The Aster has an abundance of uses both historically and in modern practice. It is an ornamental plant that also lends to ecological support, and it is used in the the medicinal and culinary worlds.
The most common use of Asters are in landscapes and as cut flowers for floral arrangements. They come in a wide range of colors from purple and pink to yellow and white and even red.
They can help in Ecological and Conservation efforts by supporting pollinators, creating habitat for native insects and animals, and as a food source.
The flowers and leaves are edible and have long been used in the kitchen.
Along with their traditional medicine uses, they are also often used in herbal infusions like teas.
Did You Know?
The Aster is a flower within a flower and is a composite of many tiny flowers that make up the disk.
They have been used to ward off evil spirits and snakes.
They are pollinator's best friends.
Not all Asters are Asters, some are known as Symphyotrichum and Eurybia.