Aster ageratoides Ashvi

Aster ageratoides Ashvi is an exceptional and prolific perennial that is undemanding and resistant to powdery mildew. This variety develops on a suckering stump from which a multitude of small white stars with golden hearts emerge in late summer. Bushy and compact, this aster with a somewhat wild temperament often invades the space it is given, and you may have to temper its enthusiasm. It is, in any case, a wonderful plant that flowers even in the shade. It is ideal in a large bed to smother weeds, in a garden that leaves room for nature!

Aster ageratoides is a perennial plant native to northern Myanmar, southwest China, and Tibet. It belongs to the Asteraceae family. The 'Ashvi' variety is distinguished by its great vigour and its very bushy habit. This plant forms a very regular, suckering stump, with upright, stiff, and tight stems, bearing deciduous, somewhat rough, matte-green, highly cut foliage. The mature plant will form a bushy and round clump of 60 cm (24 in) in all directions. Quite early in late summer, from August onwards and until October, countless small flowers with very fine ligules appear, like seedlings of small white daisies with yellow hearts.

Plant Aster ageratoides Ashvi in any soil; it even accepts poor-quality soil such as backfill soil or compact and clayey soils. In the garden, for example, associate it with Miscanthus, Calamagrostis, Phlomis russeliana, Eupatorium, Solidago and Persicaria. It will grow and flower even in shaded areas, near a clump of shrubs, for example. Its exuberant and light flowering attracts pollinating insects. The flowering stems are very pretty in a vase in a floral arrangement, in the company of September roses.

The Aster genus offers a large number of species, represented by a multitude of floriferous varieties. They come in all sizes, in an extremely rich range of colours. Several species are associated with each season.