Plants and People Project

Aster - Asteraceae.

Aster is Greek - meaning star. There are more than 150 species of Asters in North America; attracts birds and butterflies.

"England Aster (Aster novae-angliae)
Root tea was used for diarrhea and fever. Asters in general were used for wounds, either burned and placed over a wound or powdered and placed in the wound.  A tea of the whole plant was used for arrow wounds; cotton or other absorbent material was dipped into the tea and pushed into the wound." Native American Pharmacy

"Ojibway hunters camouflaged their scent by smoking aster rootlets to simulate the scent given off by deer. Native American Indians have also used different parts of the plant for its healing abilities, and at least one species (the large-leaved aster) is known to have edible parts." Up North Again

Nicknames or common names include: Fall Rose, Frost Flower, Frostweed, and Goodbye-Summer. It-Brings-the-Fall is a Native American expression for aster.

The stems, leaves and flowers of asters will produce several shades of yellow dye. Herb database

Asters are an exceptional landscape plant. Its flowers paint fields and gardens with lovely splashes of color as the growing season wanes here in the Northeast.

purple dome aster blooming

Purple Dome Aster blooming

Identification and other facts / More facts / PLANTS database

Asters

blooming asters

closeup blooming asters

Close-up of aster flowers in October

 

DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. One final note: many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past. Be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.

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Posted 10/16/05 Cindy O'Hora