Overview

Symphyotrichum 'Bee Lee Elliott' is a clump forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Symphyotrichum, part of the Asteraceae family, with deciduous foliage. Symphyotrichum 'Bee Lee Elliott' grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. Suggested uses include coastal, cottage and informal garden, gravel garden, prairie planting, wildlife gardens, cut flowers and flower borders and beds.

About

Symphyotrichum 'Bee Lee Elliott' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae that produces late summer to autumn blooms. It has deciduous foliage and suits full sun or partial shade positions. The cultivar is used for cut flowers and in mixed borders and prairie-style plantings. Flowering runs from August to October, providing late-season interest and nectar for insects.

About the genus

Symphyotrichum is a genus of over 100 species and naturally occurring hybrids of herbaceous annual and perennial plants in the composite family, Asteraceae, most which were formerly treated within the genus Aster. The majority are endemic to North America, but several also occur in the West Indies, Central and South America, as well as one species in eastern Eurasia. Several species have been introduced to Europe as garden specimens, most notably New England aster and New York aster.

Wikipedia contributors, "Symphyotrichum", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Symphyotrichum

In the garden

A cultivar of Symphyotrichum, 'Bee Lee Elliott' is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae with deciduous foliage and a reputation for late-season flowering. It makes straightforward planting in borders or larger mixed schemes where a reliable run of late blooms is required. Flowering is confined to August to October, so it is particularly useful for extending colour and nectar into autumn. Sit this plant in full sun or partial shade; it tolerates east-, south- and west-facing aspects and will grow equally well in exposed or sheltered sites. Soil requirements are broad: acceptable substrates include chalk, clay, loam or sand, across acid, neutral and alkaline pH ranges. Aim for a moist but well-drained to well-drained soil, avoiding prolonged waterlogging in heavy ground. It is fully hardy in the UK (H7). Planting suits coastal plots, cottage and informal gardens, gravel or prairie schemes and wildlife-focused beds. The stems produce flowers suitable for cutting, so it works equally well in flower borders and for bringing late-season stems into autumn arrangements. Its August–October flowering window makes it a reliable source of nectar and stem-length blooms when many other perennials have finished.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Symphyotrichum

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Aspect

East-facing, South-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness

H7

Plant details

Symphyotrichum 'Bee Lee Elliott' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Herbaceous Perennial

Habit

Clump forming

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

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

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Symphyotrichum 'Bee Lee Elliott'

Propagation

Division in spring, Root softwood basal cuttings in spring

Pest resistance

Leaf and bud eelworms, Slugs, Snails

Disease resistance

Verticillium wilt, Powdery mildews, Grey moulds

Frequently asked questions

More in the Symphyotrichum genus

• 
  Symphyotrichum 'Pink Star'
• 
  Symphyotrichum 'Prairie Purple'
• 
  Symphyotrichum laeve 'Arcturus'aster 'Arcturus'
• 
  Symphyotrichum lat. 'Lady in Black'
• 
  Symphyotrichum n - a 'Barr's Purple'
• 
  Symphyotrichum n. - a. ' Herbschnee'
• 
  Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Dasgra'New York Aster
• Symphyotrichum 'Bridal Veil'