Aster novi-belgii

MICHAELMAS DAISIES

MIXED COLOURS

Syn. Symphyotrichum novi-belgii

Aster novi-belgii
MICHAELMAS DAISIES MIXED COLOURS
Syn. Symphyotrichum novi-belgii

Aster novi-belgii is the good old-fashioned Michaelmas Daisy that we all knew and loved in our Grandma’s garden and vases.
(They have recently been re-classified as Symphyotrichum, but good old fashioned Michaelmas Daisies they still are).

Mix of blues, pinks, mauves, lavender & white

This mix contains seeds gathered from our best blue, pink, mauve, lavender & white Michaelmas Daisies.

Mix of single & double flower forms

And gathered from a mix of both single and double varieties, but all sporting golden eyes.

Brilliant show of garden flowers for late summer & autumn

Just when you are beginning to despair that the garden looks tired and sad after all the summer heat, and all the colour is over – the Michaelmas Daisies burst into bloom to save you.
They are colour Queens of the autumn garden, and reign right up into early winter.
And with so little for you to do – they are perfectly capable of achieving magnificent flower displays with no help from you.

Commercial quality cut flowers

Aster novi-belgii currently boasts well over 1,000 named cultivars.
Because they have been so intensively bred and worked on for the commercial cut flower industry over many decades.

Indispensable for autumn floristry with long vase life

No florist can do without them in autumn, and flower sprays last so well in a vase, with a natural vase life of approx. 5-10 days (untreated with DPA Diphenylamine).

Quick & easy to harvest for vases

Pickers love them because they are so quick and easy to harvest, as they naturally grow with long, straight stems that are so quickly cleaned.
The mat of foliage remains as a low clump close to the ground, while the tall flower stems have only a few, small leaves.
The myriad of colours also means there is a Michaelmas Daisy to suit every every fashion colour trend or autumn bridal party.

Bred for hardiness, disease resistance, and profuse blooming

Aster novi-belgii have been bred for many years so they now have increased hardiness, disease resistance, and profuse blooming.

Very easily & quickly grown – for time poor gardeners & beginners

Aster novi-belgii is the ultimate no-fuss plant, ideal for beginners, the time-poor, and those wanting a quick effect.

Tough & low maintenance

Plant Aster novi-bellgii in Sun to Partly Shaded positions.
They are very undemanding – growing in a wide range of soil types from sandy to clay; and a wide range of soil pH from acid to alkaline.
The only annual work is to shear the finished stems back to ground level in the winter tody-up.

Help for small birds

But don’t be too quick as small native seed eating birds are very grateful for the seed heads in winter.

Super frost hardy

Plus they are extremely frost hardy and able to tolerate temperatures down to below -20°C.

Suit seaside gardeners

While also suitable for seaside gardening, as they are tolerant of salt-laden air and a degree of salt in the soil or water.

Water-wise for dry hardy gardens

Plants of Aster novi-belgii can manage on minimal additional watering, and withstand some periods of dry when needed. They positively thrive on average garden watering.
So they are well suited for gardeners with limited precious summer water.

Pollinator friendly plants

Honey-bees, native-bees, butterflies and all nectar seeking insects are drawn irresistibly to the mass of flowers. While the long autumn blooming season (and shortage of many other flowers at this time of the year) helps the pollinators to really plump up ready for winter.

But not friends with rabbits & deer

Aster novi-belgii plants are usually passed over by our munching foes because they dislike the taste.

Evergreen clumping perennial with a low mat of foliage

As this is a mix of seed from various lovely cultivars – the flowering height of individual colours will vary from approx. 45cm. to 90cm. High when in autumn bloom.
While the evergreen foliage clump  forms a dense mat anything from 25cm. to 90cm. Wide, depending on how far you want them top spread.
Your clumps will gently increase in diameter each year until you stop them.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY
Suits beginners & gardening with kids

Sow seeds of Aster novi-belgii at any time indoors in punnets, whenever suitable temperatures are available.
OR
Scatter directly in garden in autumn or winter.
Asters germinate easily both in the garden and indoors.

Sow indoors for early plants & maximum germination: First sow the seeds on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then pat gently, to ensure good contact with the mix.
Now barely cover the seeds with a fine sprinkle of sieved mix / fine vermiculate / fine grit to a maximum of their own diameter.
But do not cover deeply, as these seeds need light to germinate.

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath and allowing the moisture to percolate to the surface of the mix from below.

Then place in a warm, well-lit position (but not in any direct sunlight).
Temperatures of 15-22°C are ideal for optimum germination.

Continue to keep the punnet consistently moist by misting from a spray water-bottle.
Covering the punnet with a clear plastic lid will also help to maintain consistent moisture.
But remove lid once germination has started.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 10-14 days.

Seed Count: 150 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the seed count and give a generous measure).

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