Not just the typical Michaelmas Daisy, we offer others with more interest. Many of the less common species are more or less mildew free and a better, moister soil will help with all species. A very varied family now reflected better by some recent name changes - if you can't find what you are looking for under Aster, try the new genus names also found on this page.
The Aster family is a huge group of plants, from most of the northern hemisphere, made up, basically, of what was left after the botanists had divided the obvious groups of daisies out of the family formerly known as Compositae, now known as Asteraceae. As a result some of the species bear little relation to each other and the new name changes make sense on a botanical level, just a pity some of the new names will be so hard to spell and pronounce compared to Aster!
As a whole, the Asters are summer and autumn flowering perennials, mostly with good upright stems that produce interesting fluffy seedheads later in the year, very useful for naturalistic gardening. Most of them like an ordinary soil, not too wet or dry, in sun or a little shade but there are a few that prefer at least some shade.
Most can be given a Chelsea-chop if required, cutting back the new growth in spring from c. 30cm to c. 15cm, to encourage side branhes and a denser, lower growing clump. It doesn't work with all of them, so ask or experiment before chopping the whole plant off!
A rare shrubby species from the Himalaya into south western China. Slightly downy foliage and heads of pinkish blue flowers from midsummer to late autumn. 1.8m.
AGM An excellent and very floriferous form which produces masses of rich blue flowers with a hint of purple in late summer and autumn. Drained soil in sun, 45cm.
Clumps of tall wand-like stems clothed with narrow leaves and topped with heads of smallish white flowers in autumn. Excellent for mixing with Panicums etc. 1.2m. Ordinary soil in sun.
An unusual Aster with its shiny green leaves, black stems and masses of small white flowers with yellow centres that rapidly turn pink - and it likes shade! Low clumps to 60cm, flowers midsummer. Any reasonable soil in shade or part shade.
AGM A stunning and well behaved Golden Rod with purple flushed foliage, best in full sun. Open, elegant heads of long narrow branches covered in yellow flowers in late summer. 1.2m. Average to good soil.
New to us this hybrid aster has dark flushed leaves and near black stems topped with spires of near white flowers in autumn. Airy and elegant, to 1.2m. Good soil in sun.
AGM. Clumps of upright, branching stems with masses of lavender flowers in autumn. Dark stems and foliage contrast well. 1m Average soil in sun or part shade.
Pretty light lilac flowers with reddish purple centres in sprays on upright stems to 45cm. Tough and easy for sun or light shade, even fairly dry. Good autumn foliage.
Luminous whitish lilac-pink flowers on dark stems form a cloud in autumn. An excellent hybrid selection from Princess Greta Sturdza's garden. Good soil in sun. 1.5m.
Upright stems arch towards the tops which bear clouds of tiny light pink flowers in autumn. Fine foliage makes a good mixer with ornamental grasses. 90cm.
A delightful prostrate form with clouds of tiny white flowers ideal for cascading over low walls or rockeries. Probably the most Heather-like form of the species. 15cm.
Clumps of deep green foliage and upright stems topped with heads of lavender-blue flowers in late summer. 50cm. Best in good soil in full sun, ideal with grasses like Panicum.
An outstanding recent introduction with purple flushed deep green leaves and heads of light pink flowers in autumn to 1.5m. Reasonably self-supporting!
AGM Clumps of upright stems well clad with purplish foliage and then topped with massed sprays of tiny, near white flowers in autumn to 90cm. Average soil in sun but it does best in rich soil that doesn't dry out.
Possibly the most vivid michaelmas daisy around - luminous bright pink, slightly paler in the centre. Upright stems to 1.2m, flowering in autumn. Easy in ordinary soil in sun.
Pretty silvery blue flowers of a decent size on strong stems to 1.5m. A good, earlier flowering species, August into late autumn, well worth trying in good soil in sun.
