Aster novae-angliae 'Andenken an Alma Pötschke'
Bearing beautiful cerise flowers, attractive to bees and butterflies, this New England aster brings a distinct colour to beds and borders in autumn. Find it in the Main Borders in the second bed down on the right hand side.
Vital statistics
- Common name
- New England aster
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Height & spread
- 1.2m (4 ft) x 60cm (2 ft), flowers 2.5 – 4 cm (1 – 1.5in)
- Form
- Clump forming, hairy perennial with short rhizomes and stout stems, densely covered with stalkless, stem-clasping, lance-shaped, mid-green leaves up to 12 cm (5in) long.
- Soil
- Well cultivated, fertile.
- Aspect
- Sun or partial shade
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy to frost tender
Aster
The genus Aster contains approximately 250 species of annuals, biennials, perennials and sub-shrubs from a variety of habitats including well-drained mountainous sites to moist woodland, in the northern hemisphere, particularly in North America. The few shrubby species are mainly from South Africa.
Aster novae-angliae 'Andenken an Alma Pötschke'
This species is long lived and tough, bringing autumn colour and attracting butterflies.
Most A. novae-angliae seedlings in their native environment have violet ray florets and yellow disc florets and pale grey-green, slightly hairy, leaves. This species is less susceptible to mildew than A. novi-belgii.
Aster novae-angliae 'Andenken an Alma Pötschke' is an herbaceous perennial with upright growth, to 1 – 1.2m, with dark foliage and sprays of distinct, deep cerise-pink flowers.
Cultivation
- Well-cultivated, fertile, moist soil in sun or partial shade.
- Mulch annually after cutting back in late autumn.
- Stake from early spring and divide every third year to maintain flower quality.
- Vulnerable to eelworms, aphids, slugs, snails, fusarium wilt, leaf-spot and grey mould (Botrytis).
- This cultivar may have problems with Tarsonomid mite which causes the flowers not to develop.
Propagation
- Sow seed in a cold frame in spring or autumn (cultivars won’t come true from seed).
- Divide or separate runners, preferably in spring, otherwise in autumn, replanting only vigorous young shoots.