Kalimeris - Japanese Aster

Heat tolerant and generally hardy zones 4 to 8, these ornamental Aster relatives tend to bloom more in the summer than in the fall. The foliage is generally around 4 inches in length. The flowers attract both butterflies and hummingbirds.
Prefers full sun to partial shade.

Kalimeris incisa
Reaches up to 5 feet in height with almost white to lilac colored, daisy-like flowers up to 1.5 inches in width borne in clusters.
The tapered, oblong leaves, up to 4 inches in length, are glossy deep green.
Loves heat and humidity, and tolerates both drought and wet soil. It often reblooms is sheared lightly after first flush of blooms.

* photo taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on July 9 2016 in Columbia, MD

'Blue Star'
A compact perennial reaching up to 2 x 3 + ( rarely over 1.5 ) feet. The pale blue flowers are borne from June through October. It can be used in the place of summer bedding annuals, as it usually blooms over an extremely long period lasting up to 4 months.


* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. Natioanal Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on July 13 2011 in Columbia, MD




* photo taken on Aug 10 2011 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on June 20 2012 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Aug 18 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 8 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 15 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 19 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 3 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 19 2021 in Columbia, MD

'Variegata'
Upright in habit, reaching up to 2.5 x 3 feet and spreads rapidly by creeping stems.
The foliage is variegated with cream. The very abundant flowers are blue.

Kalimeris integrifolia ( False Aster )
A bushy perennial up to 3 x 2 feet in size.
The leaves are oblong. The foliage is glossy mid-green.
They are smothered with small, white, daisy like flowers, up to 1 inch wide, all summer long. It often reblooms during mid-autumn if sheared lightly to deadhead after inital blooming.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on well drained soil. Very tolerant of drought and hot humid summers.

* photo taken on July 11 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Wash, DC

* photos taken on Aug 24 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 1 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 28 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 1 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 14 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 8 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 1 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 25 2024 in Columbia, MD

Kalimeris mongolica
Also called Asteromea mongolica. A fast growing perennial, reaching up to 3 x 2.5 feet with very abundant, double, white flowers borne for 3 months of more during mid-summer to mid-autumn. It often bears over 100 flowers at a time.
The leaves are pinnately-lobed.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on just about any well drained soil. Drought, humidity and very heat tolerant, it is great for parking lot islands.

* photo taken on Sep 23 2013 in Burtonsville, MD

* photos taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

Kalimeris pinnatifida ( Mongolian Aster )
Native to Japan and reaching up to 5 x 3 feet. The foliage, up to 4 inches in length is narrow and serrated.
The very abundant small, semi double flowers are borne all summer long.
It reblooms if cut back.
Hardy zones 3b to 8, thriving in most of the U.S.

* photo taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

'Hortensis'
Also called Kalimiris mongolica.

Kalimeris yomena
A perennial, reaching up to 2 feet in height.
The deeply-cut leaves are up to 1.5 inches in length.
The pale lavender flowers, up to 1 inches wide, appear during early autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 ( 4 on protected sites ) in full sun to partial shade.

* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


'Aurea'
Reaches up to 3 x 2 ( rarely over 1.5 ) feet with potential of being invasive on some sites.
The deeply-cut leaves, up to 1.5 inches in length, are green and variegated with a wide, cream or bright yellow colored margin.
The light lavender flowers are Aster like and borne in early autumn.

* photo taken on Sep 27 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.