Aster yomena var. dentatus ("Kantoyomena")

Japanese name: カントウヨメナ （関東嫁菜）
Scientific name: Aster yomena var. dentatus

[Overview]
A perennial 40–100 cm tall, found mainly in damp places such as paddy-field ridges near human settlements.
It has long creeping underground stems.
The stem often branches in the upper part.
There are basal leaves and stem leaves.
The leaves on the stem are simple and alternate, ovate-oblong, 5–10 cm long and 2–4 cm wide.
The leaf margin has fairly deep teeth and is sometimes slightly hairy.
Flower heads are borne 1 to several at the branch tips.
The flower heads are about 2.5 cm across, with 10–20 ray florets that are pale purple to white.
The involucral bracts are in 3 rows.
The achene is obovate, 2–3 mm long, with glandular hairs and bristles; the pappus is very short, 0.25 mm long.

[Uses]
The young leaves can be eaten.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by division, or by stem cuttings.
It prefers a well-drained site in sun to partial shade, out of the afternoon sun.
When planted in the ground, it is best placed under a deciduous tree that gives partial shade in summer.
It is robust and, if the conditions suit 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 unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil dries out.
Fertilizer is not very necessary if basal fertilizer is applied, but for potted plants a small amount of oil cake may be given in spring.
If you do not intend to collect seed, remove spent flowers promptly after flowering.
Pests and diseases include powdery mildew, slugs, armyworms and aphids.

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