An aster is a type of flower with a bright yellow center surrounded by thin petals that radiate outward like rays of the sun. The petals come in colors like purple, pink, white, or blue. Asters bloom in late summer and fall when many other flowers have finished blooming, bringing color to gardens when the weather starts getting cooler.

The word aster comes from the ancient Greek word for “star,” which makes perfect sense when you look at the flower's star-like shape. Scientists use this same root when naming things in space: an asteroid is a “star-like” rock floating through the solar system, and an asterisk (*) is the star-shaped symbol you see in writing.

Asters grow wild across North America and have been cultivated in gardens for centuries. Bees and butterflies love visiting asters for their nectar, especially monarch butterflies preparing for their long migration south. Some asters are tiny roadside wildflowers, while others grow as tall as a 12-year-old in carefully tended gardens.