Aster ageratoides Eleven Purple

Aster ageratoides 'Eleven Purple' is undoubtedly the best in the category of dwarf autumn asters, as this small plant is robust, floriferous, pleasantly coloured, and beautifully made. This variety forms a small, dense, and tight cushion, with a very regular appearance, which disappears under a dazzling flowering. The beautiful mauve-blue star-shaped flowers with yellow hearts are carried by purple stems. It is a hardy perennial and not very sensitive to powdery mildew. With an indefinable charm, it will become indispensable in a large bed of wildflowers or more sophisticated flowers.

Aster ageratoides is one of the parents of this hybrid variety, selected in Belgium for its incredible floribundity and its compact habit. Like all asters, this perennial belongs to the Asteraceae family. 'Eleven Purple' develops from a sucker stump composed of upright, short, stiff, and tight green-purple stems, carrying slightly rough foliage of a matte green. The adult plant will form a rounded clump 35cm (14in) tall and 30cm (12in) in diameter. From September, countless bouquets of small flowers appear in 3cm (1in) heads, with very fine outer ligules, of a bright mauve-violet shade. The flowers almost smother the foliage. This abundant flowering will only end with the arrival of frost, in October-November depending on the regions. It is a deciduous plant, whose above-ground vegetation dies in winter and regrows in spring.

Plant Aster 'Eleven Purple' in any moist soil that is not too dry. It even accepts poor quality soil, or compact and clayey soils. It cannot compete with other perennials with powerful root systems. In the garden, for example, plant it with perennial geraniums, other dwarf asters, lady's mantle, or light grasses such as Stipa tenuifolia or Muhlenbergia capillaris. It also forms beautiful bright streaks between large rocks in a rock garden. Its abundant and delicate flowering attracts pollinating insects. Its flowering stems are lovely in a vase, in a floral arrangement, in the company of September roses.

The genus offers many species, represented by a multitude of floriferous varieties. There are varieties of all sizes in an extremely rich range of colours. Several species are associated with each season.