The genus Aster is now generally restricted to the Old World species, with Aster amellus being the type species of the genus, as well as of the family Asteraceae. The New World species have now been reclassified in the genera Almutaster, Canadanthus, Doellingeria, Eucephalus, Eurybia, Ionactis, Oligoneuron, Oreostemma, Sericocarpus and Symphyotrichum, though all are treated within the tribe Astereae. Regardless of the taxonomic change, all are still widely referred to as "asters" in the horticultural trades. See the List of Aster synonyms for more information.

In the UK there are only two native members of the genus of which one, Goldilocks is very rare, the other being the Sea aster, Aster tripolium

Some common species are:

• Aster alpinus, Alpine Aster
• Aster amellus, European Michaelmas Daisy or Italian Aster
• Aster lateriflorus, Lady in Black
• Aster linosyris, Goldilocks Aster
• Aster pringlei
• Aster scaber
• Aster sibericus
• Aster tataricus, Tatarian Aster
• Aster tongolensis
• Aster tripolium, Sea Aster

Some common North American species that have now been moved are:

• Aster cordifolius (now Symphyotrichum cordifolium), Blue Wood Aster
• Aster divaricatus (now Eurybia divaricata), White Wood Aster
• Aster ericoides (now Symphyotrichum ericoides), Heath Aster
• Aster laevis (now Symphyotrichum laeve), Smooth Aster
• Aster novae-angliae (now Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), New England Aster
• Aster novi-belgii (now Symphyotrichum novi-belgii), New York Aster
• Aster pilosus (now Symphyotrichum pilosum), Frost Aster
• Aster scopulorum (now Ionactis alpina), Lava Aster

The China aster is in a related genus, Callistephus.

References