Botanical name: SYMPHYOTRICHUM ‘Little Carlow’

Common name: Aster

Size: 60x60cm

These asters (Symphyotrichum is the new name, and frankly too much of a mouthful for me) are the perfect end of summer border pick-me-up. Clusters of small violet blue daisy-like flowers appear late August until October on mid-green foliage. These plants are all fresh and raring to go just as many of the summer flowering perennials have past their best, so they’re a great way to keep borders looking colourful for longer. They are fully hardy and butterflies and bees love them.

Where to plant:
They thrive in fertile moist soil in partial shade but will tolerate full sun as long as the soil isn’t too well drained. Other late summer flowering perennials like echinaceas, rudbeckias, japapnese anemones and actaeas combine well with asters, as do grasses for prairie style planting. At 60cm tall they’re perfect for middle of the border.

How to grow:
Plant out either in spring or autumn. Create additional plants and revive established ones by dividing in Spring.