Aster dumosus Bahamas

Aster 'Bahamas' is a lovely perennial with a compact and sturdy habit. Between August and October, the plant transforms into a flowering cushion with flowers of an incredible pink, almost red. The flowers resemble daisies with yellow hearts. This variety does not sucker. Its nearly non-trailing stump produces ramified stems, adorned with lanceolate, dark green and glossy leaves. A true ball of flowers to ensure the succession of summer perennials, perfect for borders or at the front of flower beds.

Asters belong to the Asteraceae family, which mostly includes herbaceous plants. Aster 'Bahamas' is a dwarf hybrid derived from A. dumosus, or New York Aster, native to the eastern half of the United States, from Texas to Florida, Maine and Wisconsin. It measures 35 to 40cm (14 to 16in) all around. This aster enlivens the garden in late summer and early autumn, covering its foliage with small dark magenta-pink heads with yellow centres. The bright green foliage is deciduous and composed of linear, entire leaves, and it may be susceptible to powdery mildew.

Aster 'Bahamas' thrives in sunny or slightly shaded positions in rich and moist soil. It is easy to grow and its compact habit makes it suitable for borders, pots, and containers, thus brightening up the surroundings of your house right in front of your windows. It is perfect for creating charming autumn scenes combined with golden or coppery grasses, tall sedums, and green-leaved heucheras, as well as its pink or white chrysanthemum cousins. It can also beautifully enhance a border, a wall, or a rockery.

The genus offers many species, represented by a multitude of floriferous varieties. They come in all sizes, with an extremely rich range of colours. Each season, there are several species to choose from, including Aster alpinus or A. tongolensis for spring asters, A. amellus or A. frikartii for summer asters, and A. cordifolius, A. dumosus, A. ericoides, A. lateriflorus, A. novae-angliae, or A. novi-belgii for autumn asters.