Wikimedia Commons
Asteraceae
Michaelmas Daisy
Aster novi-belgii
Farewell to summer and patience rewarded.
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Symphyotrichum
- Native to
- eastern North America
- Bloom season
- Late Summer, Fall
- Type
- herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 30–120 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- moist, fertile, well-drained
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 4–8
- Lifespan
- perennial; divide every 3 years
Did you know
- Named for the Feast of St. Michael (September 29), around which time these asters typically bloom in England.
- They were originally brought to Europe from North America in the 17th century and became cottage garden staples.
- Botanists recently moved them from Aster to Symphyotrichum, but gardeners stubbornly keep the old name.
- A single well-established clump can produce over 1,000 tiny daisy-like flowers in a single season.
- The flowers are a critical late-season nectar source for migrating butterflies and bees stocking up for winter.
Color meanings
Purple
autumnal wisdom
Blue
faithful remembrance
White
farewell blessings