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Aster alpinus

Alpine Aster · Blue Alpine Daisy

Family AsteraceaeGenus Aster

Lilac daisies with narrow rays and deep yellow centers, scattered on short stems through rough alpine grass.
FlowerRobert Flogaus-FaustCC BY 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
0.3 ft9 cmPLANTS Database
Flower
WhitePLANTS Database
Blooms
Early SummerPLANTS Database
Native range
Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Altay, Amur, Austria and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database
Soil
Adapted to medium, fine textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
6.0-7.5PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: MediumPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • The alpine aster grows in the mountains of Europe, the Alps among them; one subspecies is native to Canada and the United States. Wikipedia: Aster alpinus

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

100% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Aster p. 104Public domain
Show the original text
Aster (Asteraceae). Nearly all species in this genus are D-70 germinators. The following were received as DS seed and germ. in 2-4 w at 70: A. alpinus germ. 70(100% in 2nd w) and 40(6%)-70(94% in 2 d-2w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(70%) and 40(55%)-70(2%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. under 15%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Aster p. 104. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 22, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    6 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 14 days.

94% germination in 2–14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Aster p. 104Public domain
Show the original text
Aster (Asteraceae). Nearly all species in this genus are D-70 germinators. The following were received as DS seed and germ. in 2-4 w at 70: A. alpinus germ. 70(100% in 2nd w) and 40(6%)-70(94% in 2 d-2w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(70%) and 40(55%)-70(2%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. under 15%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Aster p. 104. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

70% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Aster p. 104Public domain
Show the original text
Aster (Asteraceae). Nearly all species in this genus are D-70 germinators. The following were received as DS seed and germ. in 2-4 w at 70: A. alpinus germ. 70(100% in 2nd w) and 40(6%)-70(94% in 2 d-2w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(70%) and 40(55%)-70(2%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. under 15%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Aster p. 104. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    2 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

55% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Aster p. 104Public domain
Show the original text
Aster (Asteraceae). Nearly all species in this genus are D-70 germinators. The following were received as DS seed and germ. in 2-4 w at 70: A. alpinus germ. 70(100% in 2nd w) and 40(6%)-70(94% in 2 d-2w). Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70(70%) and 40(55%)-70(2%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. under 15%.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Aster p. 104. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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