Aster ericoides Lovely

Aster ericoides 'Lovely' is an adorable, compact, floriferous variety with charming flowering in small pink-violet daisies in late summer and early autumn. This plant, resembling heather in both its habit and delicate foliage, is also similar in its undemanding nature and robustness, allowing it to grow and bloom even in somewhat spartan conditions, in lean and relatively dry soil.

Symphyotichum ericoides (another name for Aster ericoides) belongs to the Asteraceae family and is native to the eastern and central United States, as well as northern Mexico. 'Lovely' is an old cultivar obtained in the USA in 1914, selected for its more compact habit and abundant flowering compared to the typical variety. The plant has an upright and densely bushy habit, reaching a height of 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in), with a relative spread of 50cm (20in). Flowering occurs from September to November, depending on the climate. The plant is literally covered with tiny pink-lilac heads with dark yellow centres that quickly turn old pink to brown, measuring 1cm (1in) in diameter, in pendulous panicles, loved by butterflies. The dark green, delicate foliage is composed of small pointed and lanceolate leaves, carried on very slender, sturdy, and well branched stems.

It is impossible to imagine gardens without asters in the borders. This variety is particularly resistant and undemanding in terms of soil type, even tolerating drought well. It pairs well with all other plants in the flowerbed, such as Salvia microphylla, Croscomia 'Meteore', Rudbeckia triloba, or the other woodland aster, Aster cordifolius, and its cultivars 'Ideal' or 'Little Carlow'. Asters grow quickly and can fill in empty spaces in a recently planted hedge. In a bed, one can create layers and rounded, billowing volumes by combining asters of different statures and sizes, for example with Aster ericoïdes prostratus 'Snow flurry', or the particularly robust Kalimeris mongolica Antonia, a Mongolian aster. Another idea is to pair with autumn-flowering roses, which perfectly complement the aster's mist of small flowers. This plant also makes an excellent cut flower.