Symphyotrichum laeve 'Orpheus'

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aster 'Orpheus'

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aster 'Orpheus' RHS

Synonyms

Aster 'Orpheus'

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
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A clump-forming perennial, to 1.5m tall, with broadly lance-shaped, green leaves. Branching spays of lavender-blue flowerheads, with yellow centres, are borne on dark stems from late summer into autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–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
Bushy
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 well-cultivated, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade; may need staking - see staking perennials

Propagation

Propagate by division in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

Cut back in late autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to tarsonemid mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to by Verticillium wilt and grey moulds