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The Frost aster (Aster pilosus) belongs to Asteraceae (the Aster family). It is a perennial herb that is native to North America, and was introduced to Japan in the 1950s. It is often used for flower beds and cut flowers. This herb is well branched and clumping, the height will be 40-120 cm. Leaves are alternate, lanceolate to oblanceolate. A lot of white to pale purple flowers will bloom from July to September. In the neighborhood of my parents' house in Osaka, it was said that if you didn't cut back the branches on June 6th, the flowers wouldn't bloom, but it seems that cutting back in June is done to prevent the stems from becoming woody and to keep the plants short for enjoyment.
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