Aster novae-angliae Violetta

Aster novae-angliae 'Violetta' is a robust perennial, very easy and practically never sick, which blooms between August and October in a multitude of intensely violet flowers resembling small daisies. New England Asters have the advantage of forming vigorous clumps without becoming invasive, and being quite resistant to powdery mildew. The branched stems are adorned with narrow, dark green leaves.

Aster novae-angliae 'Violetta' reaches 1.50m (5ft) in height. It animates the garden in late summer and early autumn, a period when most flowering perennial plants are over. It is distinguished by the presence of hairs on the leaves and its flowers remain closed in overcast weather. The stems tend to bend under the quantity of flowers - staking will overcome this problem. Easy to grow, it finds its place in a sunny or slightly shaded site, sheltered from strong winds, in a rich and moist soil.

Asters belong to the Asteraceae or Compositae family, made up predominantly of herbaceous plants. It is a genus that offers a large number of species, represented by a multitude of floriferous varieties. They come in all sizes, in an extremely rich range of colours. There are also varieties of Aster that bloom in spring and summer.

You can plant the 'Violetta' Aster at the back of a border, combined with chrysanthemums and other late-flowering perennials such as echinaceas, helianthus or heucheras which provide an excellent contrast of warm colours, or certain grasses with fine foliage. Its dark green leaves contrast nicely with the broader, waxy leaves of bergenias, which take on a beautiful bronze hue in autumn. These asters also make excellent cut flowers.