A star that grows out of the ground? Of course, that's the aster. It takes its name from the Greek word for "star". The New England aster is popular with bees and butterflies. It is also one of the longest-blooming autumn flowers. It starts at the end of summer and stops in late autumn. You will receive the New England asters as bare-root stock in sugar cane sacking. This is more environmentally friendly than plastic nursery pots. The roots are shipped fresh from the ground. They are already one year old. This gives them additional strength, enabling them to grow faster than they would in a nursery pot. Plants grown from bare-root stock also adapt to their new environment more easily. They flower better and they are more economical. Bare-root stock plants grow when it becomes warmer. They are winter-hardy perennials. They can be planted at any time, provided that the ground is not frozen. New England asters do best in full or half sun. They can also be planted around the garden or in flower pots on a patio, roof terrace or balcony. Keep the soil around the roots moist. But it should never be soaking wet.