Aster savatieri var. savatieri ("Miyamayomena")

Japanese name: ミヤマヨメナ （深山嫁菜）
Scientific name: Aster savatieri var. savatieri

[Overview]
A perennial 20–80 cm tall, found in shaded places in the mountains.
It has long creeping underground stems.
The stem is erect.
There are basal leaves and stem leaves; the basal leaves remain without withering even at flowering time.
The basal leaves are oblong, 3–8 cm long and 2–3 cm wide, with large teeth on the margin and hairs on both surfaces.
The petiole of the basal leaves is 1–4 cm long and winged.
The stem leaves are simple and alternate, without petioles, and hairy on both surfaces.
A single flower head is borne at the stem tip.
The flower head is about 3.5–4 cm across, with pale purple ray florets and yellow tubular florets.
The fruit is an achene.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
It prefers a well-drained place in sun to partial shade, out of the afternoon sun.
It does well planted under a deciduous tree that gives partial shade in summer.
It is hardy, and if the environment suits it, it grows well even when left alone.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Fertilizer is hardly necessary, but for potted plants a small amount of slow-release chemical fertilizer with equal amounts of the three components may be applied in spring.
When flowering is over, remove spent flowers promptly.
Pests and diseases include slugs, cutworms and aphids.

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