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Features
Narrow, slightly hairy, light green foliage appears from spring, followed by the bright pink flowers with darker pink/yellow centres.
What to use it for
Great in a herbaceous border or bed for late season colour. Useful in a wildlife garden for attracting butterflies.
How to look after it
Support may be required to prevent the stems flopping over. Ring-style supports or wide netting stretched horizontally on canes would be ideal – place them as growth starts in the spring so the stems can grow up through them.
To keep the plant vigorous it should be divided, at least every 3 years.
How to prune it
Cut it down to ground level in late autumn after flowering.
How to propagate it
By division in spring (this is also healthy for the plant). Cuttings can be taken in spring – basal shoots work best, but other stem parts can also be used. Root the cuttings in a propagator to keep them warm before potting on and hardening off in a cold frame.
Common problems
Problems can include Verticillium wilt, powdery mildews and grey moulds.
Other useful information
The name ‘Aster’ derives from the Latin for ’star’.
One legend explaining why it received this name (other than because of the star like shape of the flowers) is that the plant arose when the Greek goddess of justice, innocence and purity, Astraea, looked at the earth and cried because she couldn’t see any stars. The aster flower then grew out of the soil where her tears fell.
