Aster novae-angliae Barrs Blue

Aster novae-angliae Barrs Blue is a reliable plant. This vigorous variety offers beautiful blue-violet daisies with golden yellow hearts in September-October, on mildew-resistant foliage. Autumn wouldn't be the season of colours without these perennials, their daisy-like flowers covered in butterflies. Robust, its upright stems do not require staking. A flowering plant that is easy to grow in ordinary soil.

The family of Asteraceae, to which Asters belong, is mainly characterised by the shape of its flower heads, called capitulum. This variety, derived from the North American species novae angliae, is particularly resistant to diseases thanks to rough foliage that does not provide a foothold for the spores of pathogenic fungi such as powdery mildew and downy mildew. 'Barrs blue' blooms abundantly and its woody stems, 1.20m (4ft) in height, form opulent coloured bouquets of a pretty blue-lilac. Make sure it is not overwatered, but also that it is not exposed to intense drought during the summer. It likes a sunny site, but prefers to have its base sheltered by a thick mulch.

The 'Barrs Blue' aster is perfect in flowerbeds to extend the flowering season in the garden into autumn, but you can also plant it in large pots, perhaps along with Japanese lanterns (Physalis alkekengi), to brighten up the surroundings of your house. This combination will be equally delightful in large, cheerful bouquets. This particularly sturdy plant will delight less meticulous gardeners, as it manages to survive without care, even in neglected gardens. In the ground, create a rustic feel around your asters with tall perennials and small bushes, and evergreen foliage plants that will provide some greenery to accompany the asters until the end of their flowering period.