Kalimeris mongolica

Kalimeris mongolica is a fairly rare species in cultivation, yet very interesting due to the duration of its flowering, which begins in summer and only ends with the first frosts. This large perennial, native to central Asia and related to asters, is an unjustly overlooked plant and is underused in gardens despite its extraordinary adaptability. The white flowers are similar to small semi-double daisies with large yellowish-green hearts, and they emerge abundantly from an upright and bushy clump composed of large leafy stems. This plant deserves a place in your garden. It is incredibly easy to grow, and will thrive everywhere, in all soils, in all exposures, and under all climates.

Kalimeris mongolica, also known as Aster lautureanus var. mongolicus, Aster mongolicus, and also Kalimeris pinnatafida 'Hortensis,' is an herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, native to Mongolia, eastern Russia, and Korea. It forms upright clumps, at least 80cm (32in) tall and 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) wide, composed of narrow and deeply incised leaves in the lower part of the stems, smaller and entire in the upper part. Its numerous flowers succeed each other from the beginning of summer until the first frosts, if care is taken to regularly remove faded flowers. The flowers are heads, composed of multiple white florets arranged in a collar around a large yellow centre tinged with green. The overall appearance is a bit tousled, as if the flowers were semi-double.

Blooming abundantly in late summer and autumn, at the same time as our summer asters, this very hardy, very resistant, and particularly adaptable plant deserves a place in all countryside gardens. It is a perfect perennial for low-maintenance gardens, as it requires no care or watering. This kalimeris blends very well with all other border plants such as heleniums, asters, Salvia microphylla, Limonium gmelinii subsp. hungaricum, Rudbeckia triloba, or the other aster that likes dry soils, Aster diplostephioides. It will give its best when planted in groups of 3 to 5 plants, in large sunny borders, on dry embankments, or in the back of a garden that is never watered. It perfectly accompanies autumn colours until the arrival of winter. It also blends beautifully with grasses (Stipa pennata, Sporobolus wrightii) and silver foliage of artemisias, cinerarias, or the silver pear tree, Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula'.