Aster novi-belgii Wood's Purple - New York Aster

The Aster dumosus 'Wood's Purple' transforms into a ball of flowers from late summer to early autumn. This variety with semi-double blue-violet flowers is part of a series of asters called 'Wood's series', selected for their particularly compact and dense habit, as well as their disease-resistant foliage. It is a hardy, charming, and generous plant, ideal for bringing life to sunny borders late in the season.

Asters, or Symphyotrichum, belong to the Asteraceae family (formerly Compositae), which mainly includes herbaceous plants. The Aster dumosus 'Wood's Purple' is a dwarf hybrid derived from Symphyotrichum dumosus, or New York aster, native to the eastern half of the United States, from Texas to Florida, Maine, and Wisconsin. This 'Wood's Purple' variety measures 40 cm in all directions and brightens the garden from September to late October. Its foliage disappears under a multitude of semi-double blue-violet flower heads with yellow centres, measuring 3 to 4 cm in diameter. The robust, dark green, glossy foliage consists of linear, slender leaves that are resistant to powdery mildew and black spot disease. The above-ground growth of this aster is deciduous, emerging from the ground each spring and drying up before winter.

The Aster dumosus 'Wood's Purple' thrives in full sun and in any rich, moderately moist soil. It is perfect for creating lovely autumn scenes, at the front of borders or along pathways. It can be paired with autumn stonecrops (Sedums 'Thunderhead', 'Dark Magic') and low grasses such as Stipa tenuifolia, for example. To extend the flowering season until the doorstep of winter, plant it with chrysanthemums. The Aster dumosus 'Wood's Purple' is also suitable for rockeries or containers to brighten up the surroundings of your home, even in front of your windows. Its flowers also attract butterflies.