Aster amellus

Italian aster, European Michaelmas-daisy

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

Sincerity means more than mere honesty. It means that you mean what you say, feel what you profess, are earnest in your will. As the sadhak aspires to be an instrument of the Divine and one with the Divine, sincerity in him means that he is really in earnest in his aspiration and refuses all other will or impulse except the Divine's.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - II: Sincerity

True sincerity consists in following the way because you cannot do otherwise, in consecrating yourself to the divine life because you cannot do otherwise, in endeavouring to transform your being and emerge into the Light because you cannot do otherwise, because it is the very reason for which you live.

The Mother, Words of the Mother - III: Undated: Before February 1960

A sincere heart is worth all the extraordinary powers in the world.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - I: Occult Powers or Siddhis

Sincerity is the key of the divine doors.

The Mother, Words of the Mother - II: Sincerity

Varieties

Message of the Flower

Simple Sincerity

The Mother’s Comment

The beginning of all progress.

Colour

White, yellow

Message of the Flower

Emotional Sincerity

The Mother’s Comment

Does not try to falsify the emotions.

Colour

Lavender pink, yellow

Message of the Flower

Sincerity in the Vital

The Mother’s Comment

The sure way to realisation.

Colour

Lavender blue, yellow

Family

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Cultivars

Various, including 'King George', 'Rosa Erfullung', and 'Veilchenkonigin'

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

About 2-3 cm in diameter for individual flower heads.

Flower Texture

Smooth petals with a slightly rough central disc.

Number of Petals

Ray florets resemble petals; numerous around each central disc.

Floral Symmetry

Radially symmetrical.

Fragrance of Flower

Mild to no significant scent.

Leaf Texture

Rough, slightly hairy.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate along the stem.

Leaf Color

Green, sometimes with a bluish hue.

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous perennial, not a shrub or tree.

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Late summer to early autumn.

Climate

Temperate

Water Requirements

Moderate; does not like to be overwatered.

Soil Type

Well-drained, fertile, prefers neutral to slightly alkaline pH.

Temperature Ranges

Hardy in cooler climates; can withstand light frosts.

Sun or Shade

Prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Susceptible to powdery mildew and rust; pests include aphids and beetles.

Pollinators

Attracts bees, butterflies, and other insects.

Habitat

Meadows, grasslands, and garden settings.

Role in the Ecosystem

Supports pollinators; part of the floral biodiversity.

Ornamental

Widely used in gardens for late-season color.

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Primarily ornamental.

Endangered Status

Not globally endangered