Aster alpinus

RHS Plant Profile
blue alpine daisy

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blue alpine daisy RHS 1967

Other common names

alpine aster, rock aster

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Herbaceous Perennial
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Spreading, clump-forming perennial to 25cm in height, with narrow mid-green leaves, and daisy-like, violet flowerheads to 5cm across, with a dark yellow centre, produced on upright stems, in early and midsummer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Aster can be perennials, annuals or subshrubs, mostly with narrow leaves, and solitary or clustered, daisy-like flowers
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Alps, Pyrenees

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in an open sunny position. See aster cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division in spring or root softwood basal cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Rock garden
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Deadhead spent flowers to tidy, cut back stem close to the ground in late autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to leaf and bud eelworms, slugs and snails

Diseases

Asters may be susceptible to Verticillium wilt, Powdery mildews and grey moulds