Aster amellus 'Blue King'
Garden Plant Information

Aster amellus 'Blue King'

 

Aster amellus 'Blue King' - flowers

 

Name

Aster amellus ‘Blue King’ (also called Michaelmas daisy 'Blue King')

Genus  

Aster

Species

amellus

Cultivar/variety

'Blue King'

General description

Herbaceous perennial with blue-lilac daisy-like flowers. Asters provide a splash of colour in autumn when many other plants have finished flowering. They are good for cutting. Reputed to be rabbit resistant. Attractive to bees, flies, beetles, moths and butterflies.

Season of interest

Flowers in late summer to autumn.

Key horticultural features

  1. Upright, but fairly lax habit. May need support. H 30cm S 46cm

  2. Leaves – mid-green, rough, oval.

  3. Stems – straight to lax, round and green, sometimes a hint of red-brown.

  4. Flowers – single, many-petalled daisy type flower. Blue-lilac petals, yellow centres.  

Cultural details

Aspect

Prefers sun but will succeed in partial shade.

Soil

Well drained, moisture retentive.

Hardiness

Hardy.

Maintenance

Water regularly in summer. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Cut back to ground level after flowering and apply a generous mulch of compost. A. amellus is prone to damage by slugs, snails, aphids and mildew.

Propagation

Clumps can be divided in autumn or in spring. Sow seed in spring. Germination can be improved by chilling.