Aster amellus Dr Otto Petschek

Aster 'Dr Otto Petschek' is a medium-sized variety with lavender-blue flowers with yellow centres in late summer. This perennial flowers generously in soft and fresh colours. This aster thrives in poor and limestone soil, as long as it remains moist.

Aster amellus belongs to the Asteraceae family. This species is native to Eastern Europe and Turkey. The horticultural variety ‘Dr Otto Petschek’ has an upright, sparsely branched habit. It will reach a height of 50 cm (20in) when in bloom, and will spread over 45 cm (18in), with a moderately fast growth rate. The particularly abundant flowering takes place from August to September. The 3 cm (1in) wide petals are pure lavender-blue while the heart is yellow-orange. This aster is a deciduous perennial with slightly hairy stems. The basal leaves are also slightly hairy, lanceolate and green. This plant spreads through underground woody rhizomes.

It is impossible to imagine our gardens without asters. Undemanding, completely hardy and easy to grow, they blend very well with all kinds of perennials. The relatively modest size of this Aster allows you to plant it in pots. The aster genus is extremely diverse in a wide range of colours and all sizes. By choosing different cultivars, it is possible to enjoy these lovely daisy-like flowers from spring until the onset of winter.