Aster pringlei Monte Cassino

Aster pringlei Monte Cassino is a precious perennial for bringing the garden to life in autumn, a time of year when flowers are less common. Forming a clump of stems adorned with delicate foliage, the plant transforms into a cloud of small white stars with golden hearts that sway in the breeze. Perfectly hardy and undemanding, it is an ethereal plant that requires very little maintenance. Whether in the garden or in a vase, its flowers add lightness to bouquets of dahlias, late roses, and large hydrangea heads...

Aster pilosum or ericoides var. pringlei is a perennial herbaceous plant native to eastern North America. It is a hardy species that prefers rich, limey soil that is not too dry in summer. The 'Monte Cassino' cultivar was selected for its abundant flowering. It first forms rosettes of small leaves close to the ground, which persist through winter, occupying about 30-40 cm (12-16in) of space. During the summer, sparsely leafed stems emerge from the ground, reaching a height of up to 90 cm (35in). The leaves that adorn its stems are very small, thin, and dark green. In late summer or early autumn, from September to November, clusters of delicate 10 cm (4in) long panicles emerge, adorned with tiny 'flowers', resembling white daisies with yellow hearts. The floral stems of this autumn star can be laid flat by wind and rain, so it is sometimes necessary to stake them. Bees and other pollinators also appreciate this beautiful autumn flowering. Maintenance simply involves pruning the dried floral stems in late winter.

Airy, light, and generous, the Aster pringlei Monte Cassino is a fabulous plant for naturalistic or countryside-style flower beds. It forms beautiful combinations with grasses such as Miscanthus, Eragrostis or Muhlenbergia capillaris, echinaceas, or even goldenrods. Its airy flowering adds a touch of lightness to that of repeat-flowering roses, in the same way as baby's breath. Pair it with your favourite dahlias, autumn daisies, Sanguisorba (burnets), persicarias, and more... It is also highly appreciated for bouquets, thanks to its long stems.