Symphyotrichum laeve 'White Climax'

RHS Plant Profile

aster 'White Climax'

Synonyms

Aster laevis 'White Climax'
Aster novi-belgii 'Climax Albus'
Aster 'White Climax'
Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Climax Albus'

Herbaceous Perennial

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A tall, sturdy deciduous herbaceous perennial up to 200cm with mid-green narrow lance-shaped foliage and masses of pure white daisy-like flowers with green centres, appearing late in the season in October. Shows good resistance to short periods of frost and mildews

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–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): H6

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: Symphyotrichum includes around 90 species of annuals, biennials and perennials, mostly spread through the Americas, that were formerly included within the genus Aster. Leaves are simple, lance-shaped and entire, but it is their daisy-like flowerheads that they are grown for; central disc florets are typically yellow, surrounded by strap-shaped ray florets in shades of pink, blue, purple or white
Name Status: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive soil, in full sun or partial shade; mulch every year after cutting down in late autumn. Divide every third year to retain vigour and flower quality

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring, replanting only vigorous young shoots

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Coastal
Gravel garden
Prairie planting
Flower borders and beds
Cut flowers

Pruning

Cut stems close to ground in late autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, leaf and bud eelworms, slugs, snails and tarsonemid mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to Fusarium wilt, grey moulds, leaf spot but good resistance to powdery mildews