Symphyotrichum syn Aster turbinellus (turbinellum)

Essential border plant. Clusters of clear pink, daisy-like flowers.

Prairie Aster becomes an autumn seasonal focal point as myriads of light lavender and pale periwinkle flowers nearly cover the entire mounded plant. The cool-colored petals encircle bright yellow centers that become rich burgundy after pollination. From the prairies of the US, on plains, but more often in open woods, upland glades and ridges. Dappled shade is good as is more sun. Shrubby upright perennial with daisy-like flowers with large lavender rays and yellow centres. The base of each flowerhead is shaped like a turban. Easy to grow, long-lived and is a great source of nectar for butterflies and insects with lots of nectar and pollen. Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit. Site conditions play a large role in the potential growing height can be 90cm H, 60cm spread over time, quite a plant, almost shrub-like, yet it dies back to the ground each winter.

peganum from Small Dole, England, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons