While many people admire asters for their beautiful flower, most people don’t know that asters are more than just pretty flowers. Asters have a world-wide reputation and are common in many countries. Below are just a few of the many interesting and unusual facts about asters.

• Asters are named after the Greek word for “star.” Asters have a star-shaped flower head similar to that of a daisy. Like the stars in the sky, asters are found abundantly throughout the globe as they grow in a wide range of climates from the tropics to cooler regions in the North.
  
• The genus aster dates back over 4,000 years and has been used to decorate homes and gardens for centuries. Asters are part of the largest family of flowering plant-families, Asteraceae. A fair number of the approximately 600 species that are part of the aster genus are native to North America and can be easily spotted throughout the country for their lovely clusters of purple, blue, pink, white, or red petals.
  
• This flower is not a single flower. While the aster looks like a single flower, it is actually a cluster of about 300 small yellow disk flowers that are surrounded by colorful petals. This gives the illusion of a sole flower and creates a plush look.
  
• Aster is the common name attributed to this flower throughout the universe. In many languages throughout the world, including Swedish, Spanish, French, and Dutch, the aster is also pronounced as it is in English and Greek, “aster.” This flower needs no other name, as it is so well-known and loved.
  
• The most common time to find asters is during the late summer and fall months, from late July to late October. Thus, as the leaves begin to fall and the sky begins to darken, asters enliven their environment with their lovely pastel colors.
  
• Asters are not just used in gardens or as fresh cut flowers. In Denmark and Holland, asters are often the flower of choice to create an eye-catching windowsill decoration. They have a smaller flower than the daisy and are, therefore, the perfect size for many windowsills. They are also ideal for tabletop bouquets or centerpieces, either on their own or as a complement to other festive flowers.

With such a rich history and with so many interesting facts about asters to discover, it’s no wonder that people love growing asters and using them as decoration for their home, garden, and at special events. They are beautiful, refreshing flowers known the world over and loved by people for centuries.