Aster Ochtendgloren

The 'Ochtendgloren' hybrid Aster is a tall autumn perennial with numerous pale pink flowers carried on purplish stems. It stands out for its disease resistance and will add  life to tired flowerbeds in the summer. It can reach 140 cm (55in) in height and its flowering period extends from September to October.

The flowers come in very dense clusters of small purple-pink daisies, turning pale pink towards the end of their season. The heart of the flowers is yellow-brown. Its leaves are light green and slender with smooth margins and pointed tips. It will enhance your flowerbeds in autumn,  taking over from summer-flowering perennials. Due to its tall size it needs to be planted sheltered from the wind, among bushes or close to a wall. It can also be supported by staking. It will need to keep some moisture at its base to bloom well, so provide mulch from June, before any heatwaves.

It's impossible to imagine our gardens without aster flowerbeds or borders. Undemanding, they go very well with all other border plants such as salvias or crocosmias. Both cheerful and melancholic, autumn asters are also great companions for shrubs with colourful foliage. They will catch the eye when paired with a 'Grace' Cotinus or dwarf winged euonymus. These plants are also excellent cut flowers.