This time of year, I love finding asters growing in the most unlikely places around our farm. Did you know they’re the official flower of September…the birth month I share with my husband and little grandson?

Asters have a long, rich history and symbolize love, faith, and wisdom.

Originally native to parts of Europe and Asia, asters can be found growing, in a variety of colors, all over the world. They thrive in lots of different growing conditions—even ones that other flowers find intolerable. It’s their ability to grow so easily that has them often referred as weed-like plants.  But long before they were considered weeds, they were thought to be sacred.

Because ancient Greeks believed asters had the power to ward off evil spirits, they burned the flowers as a way of repelling serpents from their homes. They also used asters to honor Hecate, the goddess of magic and witchcraft, by weaving asters into wreaths and placing them on alters.

The name “aster” comes from the Greek word “asteri”, meaning “star”, which is fitting for this small star-shaped flower. According to Greek mythology, asters were created by the tears of the goddess Astraea. It’s said that one day, she was so upset by the lack of stars in the dark night sky, that she began to cry. As she wept, her tears fell to the ground and turned into star-shaped flowers.

In other legends, asters were thought to have been created when Virgo scattered stardust over the Earth. Where the stardust settled, aster flowers bloomed. 

The aster is also an emblem of Venus, the goddess of love.

As a member of the Asteraceae family, asters are edible. Their flowers, leaves and stems can be eaten raw, or cooked like spinach. Although I have yet to try them myself, aster flowers are said to have a slightly bitter taste that can be brewed to make tea, used to decorate desserts, or added to salads and other dishes as a beautiful garnish.

I’ll let you know how my first cup of “aster-tea” turns out! 

Hugs, 

Krista