Aster ageratoides syn. Aster trinervus

Incredible colour slection and as tough as old boots.

Clump-forming perennial which grows to about 75-90cm tall, with dark green, toothed, lance-shaped leaves, and clusters of dark violet flowers with yellow centres, flowering on strong stems, over a long period from early to late autumn or early winter. A rich purple colour. Shade or sun. Almost impossible to kill with neglect. Gorgeous but spreads. So plant in a special root bag or within a hoop of some sort.

From China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, Inner Mongolia, Japan, Khabarovsk, Korea, Laos, Manchuria, Myanmar, Nepal, Primorye, Qinghai, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

Taken at home in a shingle garden and as a reminder indoors.

Juni from Kyoto, Japan, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons