Aster savatieri var. savatieri ("Miyakowasure")

Japanese name: ミヤコワスレ （都忘）
Scientific name: Aster savatieri var. savatieri

[Overview]
A perennial 20–50 cm tall, a cultivated form of Miyama-yomena.
The stem is erect.
There are basal leaves and stem leaves, and the basal leaves remain without withering even at flowering time.
The basal leaves are oblong with large teeth on the margins and coarse hairs on both surfaces.
The petioles of the basal leaves are winged.
The stem leaves are simple and alternate, with no petioles and coarse hairs on both surfaces.
A single flower head is borne at the stem tip.
The flower heads are about 4 cm across; the ray florets are purple, pink, white and so on, and the tubular florets are yellow.
After flowering, it forms a shortened stem in a rosette, and passes the summer in that form.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by division.
It prefers well-drained places in sun to partial shade that do not receive afternoon sun.
It is good to plant it under deciduous trees that give partial shade in summer.
It is robust and, if the environment suits 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 not much needed, but for potted plants a small amount of slow-release fertilizer with equal amounts of the three components may be given in spring.
Once the flowers are over, remove the spent flowers regularly.
Slugs, cutworms, aphids and the like are seen as pests and diseases.

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