Heteropappus meyendorffii Blue Knoll - Blue Chrysanthemum

Discover the Heteropappus meyendorffii Blue Knoll, to flood flower beds with color in late summer and autumn. This little-known semi-hardy perennial is truly unique. Resembling a blue chrysanthemum, it offers a late flowering in late summer and autumn, forming in one season compact little bushes, covered in bright lilac-blue daisies, around a golden centre, regardless of the weather. Its slightly spreading habit allows it to fill empty spaces in flower beds and borders, cover the ground or dress up pots and planters on the patio. It is easily grown as an annual in moist, fertile and well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade.

Heteropappus meyendorffii, also known as Aster hispidus, is a short-lived perennial plant of the family Asteraceae, as its inflorescences in heads resembling asters or daisies suggest. This plant is native to China, Mongolia, Japan and Korea, where it grows on the edge of forests, in meadows and along roadsides, in damp soil. The 'Blue Knoll' selection stands out for the intense lilac-blue colour of its heads. It develops a taproot and forms a bouquet of herbaceous, branching stems, covered with thin foliage resembling that of asters. The mature plant, which takes only a few months to grow, has a spreading, bushy habit, forming clumps 30 cm (12in) tall and 45 cm (18in) in diameter. Flowering occurs from September to November, even in rainy or freezing weather. The heads are composed of blue-purple ligulate florets, whose texture wonderfully reflects the light, arranged around a yellow centre. They measure 4 to 5 cm (2in) in diameter and are gathered in corymbs at the ends of the stems.

Accompanying the flowering of asters, and then that of chrysanthemums, Heteropappus Blue Knoll will find its place in borders or flower compositions on the patio. It pairs very well with all kinds of flowering plants and enhances the autumn colours until the onset of winter. We suggest the following combination: Heteropappus Blue Knoll, Aster turbinellus, Sedum 'Purple Emperor' and Penstemon 'Mother of pearl'. The combination of colours, foliage, and textures is delightful, from summer to autumn.