Aster pyrenaeus Lutetia

Aster pyrenaeus 'Lutetia' is a robust and floriferous perennial, which blooms between July and September, with a multitude of lilac-blue flowers resembling large daisies. It has a fairly strong crown from which very leafy, upright stems with a slightly branching and flexible habit rise up. In summer, this Aster literally transforms into bouquets of flowers.

Easy-to grow Aster pyrenaeus 'Lutetia' is a 60 cm (24in) summer Aster, immune to powdery mildew and undemanding. It thrives in rocky, limestone soils but also in moist or even wet conditions for part of the year. It resembles Asters amellus but is more floriferous.

It can be planted in a sunny or slightly shaded spot, in the heart of a bed or in a rock garden, in front of a Miscanthus and an Achillea for example, or alongside a Kniphofia or another Aster. They are also excellent cut flowers.

Asters belong to the family of Asteraceae or Composites, which mostly includes herbaceous plants. It is a genus that gives rise to a multitude of floriferous varieties. There are Asters of all sizes, in an extremely diverse range of colours. Several species are associated with each season, spring Asters, including Aster alpinus or Aster tongolensis; summer Asters, including Aster amellus or Aster frikartii; autumn Asters, including Aster cordifolius, Aster dumosus, Aster ericoides, Aster lateriflorus, Aster novae-angliae, or Aster novi-belgii.