Erigeron Foersters Liebling

Erigeron 'Foersters Liebling' is a charming summer perennial with a long flowering period that presents large heads with finely carved 'petals' in bright magenta pink. Its numerous semi-double flowers in pink with yellow centres bloom from June to August and contribute to the animation of the garden by attracting pollinators. Perfect for romantic or wild settings, it is suitable for everyone, as it tolerates all types of soils, even limestone, and shows robustness and hardiness.

Belonging to the Asteraceae family and indeed resembling Asters, this Erigeron is originally from California. Resulting from hybridisation, its herbaceous clump grows to reach about 60 cm (24in) in height and 40 cm (16in) in width. It is therefore a friend of small gardens, but also complements larger flower beds. Its deciduous foliage is  green-grey. Its leaves are lanceolate, rather long, around 10 cm (4in), numerous at the base and arranged alternately along the stems. These stems bear corymbs of heads at their tops. They are composed on the periphery of ligulate or 'tongue-shaped' flowers, very thin, in a particularly bright magenta pink. As they open up, they reveal the yellow tubular flowers that form the centre.

Erigeron is undemanding in terms of soil. However, it prefers moist but well-drained soils and a sunny position to develop rapidly. It withstands frost down to -15 °C (5°F), tolerates limestone and poor soils, and appreciates its stems being cut back at the end of flowering to allow it to regenerate its stump. Dividing the stump will be beneficial after three years if it has expanded significantly. By removing faded flowers, you will stimulate the appearance of new ones. However, at the end of the season, you can leave them and see silky bristle fruits appear, which fly away with the first autumn winds.

'Foersters Liebling' will be perfect in a group within a mix of grasses, accompanied by Cosmos, Roses like Gertrude Jekyll, and Phlox carolina Bill Baker. Indispensable in pink-inspired flower beds, its long and earlier flowering than that of Asters will provide numerous bouquets and colourful flower beds at the height of the season.