Aster novi-belgii Patricia Ballard

Aster novi-belgii 'Patricia Ballard' is a robust perennial that blooms between September and October with a multitude of semi-double pinkish-purple flowers resembling small daisies. The spreading crown produces branched stems, adorned with lanceolate, dark green and glossy leaves. It is a very tall aster that can reach up to 1.5m (5ft) in height.

Aster novi-belgii 'Patricia Ballard' is easy to grow and completely hardy, it thrives in a sunny or slightly shaded position, in rich and moist soil. Its large size makes it fragile and strong winds can bend its stems, making it much less elegant. Therefore, it needs a sheltered location, near a dense hedge or a wall. Another option is to stake it. It brings the garden to life in late summer and early autumn when most flowers have disappeared. You can plant it at the back of borders, combined with late-flowering perennials like echinaceas, sunflowers or heucheras, which create an excellent contrast of warm colours, or ornamental grasses with fine foliage. These asters are also excellent cut flowers.

Asters belong to the Asteraceae or Composite family, which mainly consists of herbaceous plants. It is a rich and diverse genus. There are asters of all sizes, in an extremely wide range of colours. With this variety, one can fill the garden with flowers from spring to autumn!