Aster yomena

Aster yomena (syn. Kalimeris yomena), the kalimeris or Japanese aster, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Korea and Japan.^[1][2] Locals occasionally collect its young leaves and cook them as a leaf vegetable.^[3]

Aster yomena
Close-up of flowers, which can be white to pale lavender[1]
Aster yomena is often found on roadsides
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Aster
Species:	A. yomena
Binomial name
Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda
Synonyms[2]
Kalimeris pinnatifida var. angustifolia Nakai Kalimeris yomena (Kitam.) Kitam. Kalimeris yomena f. alba Sugim. Kalimeris yomena subsp. angustifolia (Nakai) H.Y.Gu Kalimeris yomena f. laciniata Sugim.

A perennial reaching 1.5 ft (45 cm) high, and hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8, it is considered an easy plant for beginning gardeners, and can be grown "without fear of failure".^[1][4] There are a number of ornamental cultivars under its synonym Kalimeris yomena, with the variegated 'Shogun' being widely commercially available.^[5]

Variegated 'Shogun' leaves

Subtaxa

The following varieties are accepted:^[2]

• Aster yomena var. angustifolius (Nakai) Soejima & Igari – Japan
• Aster yomena var. yomena – Korea, Japan