Aster amellus Sonia

Amellus Aster 'Sonia', also known as Summer Aster or Christ's Eye, is a medium-sized variety with semi-double pink flowerheads that bloom from late summer. Bridging the gap between summer blooms and autumn colours, this easy-to-grow perennial is covered in stars of a slightly purplish-pink colour. This aster can tolerate poor and limestone soil, as long as it remains moist.

Amellus Aster belongs to the Asteraceae family and originates from Eastern Europe and Turkey, where it grows in hill and mountainous areas, in warm and dry locations, in meadows, in clearings, at the forest edge, on slopes, and along paths. 

'Sonia' is one of its many cultivars. This perennial shows an upright, slightly branched habit from spring. It reaches a height of 50cm (20in) when in bloom and spreads up to 45cm (18in), with a fairly fast growth rate. The very generous flowering takes place in August-September. The inflorescence is a head with peripheral ligulate flowers that are a slightly purplish-pink colour. The central flowers (the heart) are yellow-orange. The heads measure about 3cm (1in) in diameter and are grouped in a short corymb, numbering 2 to 6. This aster is a deciduous perennial with slightly hairy stems. The basal leaves are slightly pubescent, rough on both sides, usually entire, oblong, lanceolate, and medium green. The cauline leaves are sessile (without petiole), and acute. This plant spreads through underground woody rhizomes.

It is impossible to imagine our gardens without aster beds or borders. Not demanding, they pair well with all other plants in beds and borders, such as Salvia microphylla and Crocosmia 'Meteor'. Both cheerful and melancholic, these perennials accompany the return of autumn and the splendour of fall foliage. Try combining pink and blue asters with Cotinus 'Grace' or dwarf winged Euonymus: the colour combination is astonishing. These plants are also excellent cut flowers.