Aster yomena var. yomena

Japanese name: ヨメナ （嫁菜）
Scientific name: Aster yomena var. yomena

[Overview]
A perennial 40–120 cm tall, found in damp places in hills and fields.
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, and slightly glossy.
The leaf margin has teeth and is sometimes slightly hairy.
Flower heads are borne 1 to several at the branch tips.
The flower heads are about 2.5–3.5 cm across, with 10–20 pale purple ray florets.
The involucral bracts are in 3 rows.
The achene is obovate, 3 mm long, with glandular hairs and bristles; the pappus is very short, 0.5 mm long.

[Uses]
The young leaves are used as a wild vegetable.

[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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