Aster novae-angliae Andenken an Paul Gerber

The Aster or Symphyotrichum novae-angliae Andenken an Paul Gerber is an old variety, still highly appreciated for the brilliance of its pink-violet flowers with orange centres, pleasantly fragrant. Once neglected in favour of other varieties considered more refined, New England asters are now gaining interest due to their natural resistance to powdery mildew, the strength of their stems, as well as their adaptability to humid climates and clayey and moist soils that are sometimes suffocating. Paul Gerber stands tall, delivering from late summer to the first frost a quantity of delightful scented flower heads that butterflies love. For all these reasons, it can be adopted without reservation in sunny borders, within a small mixed hedge, or even to adorn the damp edges of a pond. Its flowers last a long time in bouquets.

The Asteraceae family, which includes Asters, is mainly characterised by the shape of its flower heads, called capitulum. Aster novae-angliae is a very hardy plant native to the wet prairies of easern and central North America. This variety, Paul Gerber, introduced in Germany in 1950, is both vigorous and endowed with brightly coloured flowers, gently scented and particularly long-lasting in borders and bouquets. The plant grows in an upright clump made of strong stems often reaching 1.40m (5ft) to 1.50m (5ft) in height. Very hardy, it can withstand temperatures down to - 30°C, and it blooms abundantly in September-October. Its small semi-double daisies, 5cm (2in) wide, are composed of a collar of ligules of a satin pink-violet colour, very fine, surrounding a small centre of a very warm yellow-orange colour, forming a little sun. Flowering will be more generous if the plant does not lack water in summer. It likes full sun, but will prefer to have its base protected by a thick mulch. The stems, woody at the base, carry leaves with narrow, rough, and hairy lamina, of a slightly greyish green. The small stems that bear the flowers are often tinged with purple, enriching the colour palette of this decidedly delightful variety.

Aster 'Andenken an Paul Gerber' is perfect in borders, extending the flowering season in the garden into autumn, but you can also plant it in large pots to brighten up the surroundings of your house - and use its flowers to adorn the interior with generous scented bouquets. In the ground, create a rustic feel by surrounding your asters with tall perennials (Gauras, Rudbeckia, perennial sunflowers, inulas) and small bushes (landscape roses, Perovskia, Caryopteris, small Hydrangea macrophylla), plus evergreens like cotoneaster, Lonicera nitida, or creeping junipers to provide some greenery to accompany the asters until the end of their flowering period. In bouquets, mix them together and add some grass stalks such as Pennisetum setaceum rubrum or Stipa pennata, Dahlias, Chinese lanterns, and branches of Callicarpa loaded with fruits.