How big does Alpine aster grow?

About 30 cm × 40 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 15–40 cm × 15–60 cm.

What soil does Alpine aster grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, calcareous.

Is Alpine aster hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Alpine aster toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

When does Alpine aster flower?

Flowering: May–July, purple, blue, pink, white.

How much water does Alpine aster need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Alpine aster cost?

It sells for roughly HUF 1,300 to HUF 3,100 in local shops, depending on size.

Alpine aster

Aster alpinus

Alpine aster (Aster alpinus) is a perennial that reaches 30 cm × 40 cm after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Non-toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about HUF 1,300.

Illustration of Alpine aster — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A low, cushion-forming perennial that carries large yellow-centred daisies in violet, blue, pink or white in late spring and early summer, which makes it a good fit for rock gardens, border edges and pots. Give it full sun and lean, free-draining soil, stony and limy if you like. It copes badly with heavy wet ground and muggy summer heat, where it fades away within a few years, so it pays to divide and renew the clumps every few years.

Watch out for

It is short-lived in heavy, compacted soil that stays wet in winter, where the crown rots or aster wilt takes it. In the hot, muggy summers of lowland gardens in Central Europe it can weaken. Powdery mildew can occur and slugs and snails eat the young shoots.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 30 cm × 40 cm
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–July, purple, blue, pink, white

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	30 cm × 40 cm
Ultimate size	15–40 cm × 15–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–July, purple, blue, pink, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	30 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about HUF 1,300

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. HUF 1,300 – HUF 3,100

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Perennials for full sun Plants that are non-toxic to children Perennials for pollinators Plants for containers Low-maintenance perennials

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