Aster amellus 'Violet Queen' (European Michaelmas Daisy) — Clump-forming

Overview

Aster amellus 'Violet Queen' is a plant with a clump-forming habit in the genus Aster, part of the Asteraceae family, with deciduous foliage. Aster amellus 'Violet Queen' grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6. Suggested uses include borders, cottage gardens and wildlife gardens.

About

Aster amellus 'Violet Queen' is a clump-forming perennial in the Asteraceae that bears lilac, daisy-like flowers. It is deciduous and blooms in the UK from August to October. The cultivar prefers full sun on neutral loam that stays moist but well-drained and suits a south-facing, sheltered spot. Rated H6 (very hardy), it will survive cold winters in appropriate sites.

About the genus

Aster is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Its circumscription has been narrowed, and it now encompasses around 170 species, all but one of which are restricted to Eurasia; many species formerly in Aster are now in other genera of the tribe Astereae. Aster amellus is the type species of the genus and the family Asteraceae.

Wikipedia contributors, "Aster (genus)", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Aster (genus)

In the garden

Aster amellus 'Violet Queen' belongs to the Aster genus and sits within the European Michaelmas daisy group; the species has a foothold in mountain ranges across Europe, including the Alps and Pyrenees. 'Violet Queen' forms a defined clump with dark green leaves and produces numerous lilac, daisy-like flower heads in late summer and early autumn, providing colour from August to October. Give it a sunny, south-facing position in loam that is neutral in pH and keeps consistently moist yet well-drained soil. Choose a sheltered exposure to protect flower stems from strong winds; plants rated H6 are regarded as very hardy, so severe cold is not normally a problem provided roots are not waterlogged. Avoid heavy, permanently wet ground and improve drainage with grit or organic matter if necessary. Place Aster amellus 'Violet Queen' towards the front or middle of mixed borders, in cottage-style beds or wildlife gardens where late-season nectar is valuable to insects. Let the clump remain intact from year to year and lift-and-divide only when it shows signs of thinning; the cultivar's steady, late-season flowering is most useful where gaps are needed between late-summer shrubs and early-winter structure.