Summer is not quite over though; Rudbeckias and Monardas are coming into their own and we have a new batch of Symphyotrichum (Asters) just beginning to flower. We have a splendid collection of Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster) in a wonderful range of colours, bomb-proof and mildew free. Where we can, we like to sell these as small, but well-established plants as their final height of 1m is rather difficult to manage in a pot. If this is too high for your border, just give them the Chelsea Chop. They will give your garden a final burst of colour right through to November.
Symphyotrichum includes around 90 species of annuals, biennials and perennials, mostly spread through the Americas, that were formerly included within the genus Aster. Leaves are simple, lance-shaped and entire, but it is their daisy-like flowerheads that they are grown for; central disc florets are typically yellow, surrounded by strap-shaped ray florets in shades of pink, blue, purple or white
Alma Potschke Lye End Beauty
Barr’s Pink Marina Wolkonsky
Barr’s Violet Purple Dave
Harrington’s Pink Purple Cloud
Helen Picton Rose Sieger
James Ritchie Ruddlesburg
Lou Williams Sayer’s Croft
Schneeengel
Monarda Fireball at Downside Nurseries
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘Septemberrubin’
Rudbeckia Cherokee Sunset