Aster ericoides Pink Cloud

Aster ericoides Pink Cloud is a truly charming variety of heath aster, with delicate pastel pink flowering in late summer and early autumn. The plant forms a large, airy clump, covered in generous, fluffy panicles, weighed down by the weight of the flowers. It is a problem-free perennial and a delightful addition to flower beds, also adding a lot of lightness to September bouquets.

Symphyotichum ericoides (the modern name for Aster ericoides) belongs to the Asteraceae family. Its ancestor is native to the eastern and central United States, as well as northern Mexico. 'Pink Cloud' is a cultivar selected for its abundant pale pink flowering. The plant has an upright and bushy habit, reaching approximately 90 cm (35in) in height, with a spread of 50 cm (20in). The flowering, which is very generous and long-lasting, occurs from September (sometimes late August depending on the climate) to October-November. The plant is then covered in hundreds of small pale pink capitula (flower heads) with a yellow centre turning brown, measuring 1 cm (1in) in diameter. They are arranged in pendulous panicles, much visited by butterflies. The foliage, very fine, consists of small, dark green, pointed and lanceolate leaves, carried on thin, sturdy and branching stems. The vegetation almost completely disappears in winter.

It is impossible to imagine our gardens without asters in the beds and borders. 'Pink Cloud' is particularly undemanding in terms of soil type, and even tolerates drought quite well when planted in deep soil. It is perfect in combination with grasses; choose from among the more less demanding ones, such as Eragrostis spectabilis (which forms a pink cloud in August), Muhlenbergia capillaris (also pink in autumn) or Miscanthus sinensis Yaku Jima. It gets along well with all other flowerbed regulars such as Salvia microphylla, echinaceas, or the shade-tolerant Aster cordifolius and its cultivars 'Ideal' or 'Little Carlow'. Asters grow quickly, they can fill in empty spaces in a newly planted hedge. In beds you can create layers and rounded, billowing volumes by combining asters of different statures and sizes, for example with Aster ericoides prostratus 'Snow flurry', Aster laevis or turbinellus. Another idea is to pair with autumn-flowering roses, which perfectly highlight its mist of small flowers. This plant also makes an excellent cut flower.