Aster novae-angliae 'Harringtons Pink'

Deciduous, herbaceous perennial that vigorously grows to 1.2m tall and 0.6m wide.

Pink daisy flowers with yellow centres produced through summer and into autumn. Green, lance-shaped, hairy leaves.

Prefers full sun to partial shade and humus-rich, well-draining soil that remains reliably moist in summer.

With suitable preparation and care, perennials will grow and flower well year after year. They benefit from a weed-free well-drained soil rich in organic material.

Prepare the planting site when soil is moist and easily worked, such as after the first rains in spring and autumn. Remove all weeds and incorporate bark, compost or other organic material. Before planting, ensure the root ball is saturated and remove the planter pot with minimal root disturbance. Trim any broken roots and plant at the same level as in the container. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root ball, press in and water once planted. Planting too closely leads to spindly growth, poor flowering and eventual plant decline. In a well-planned border, the plants in flower should just touch each other to create a full effect without overcrowding.

As shoots begin to grow in spring they may need staking. An increasing number of self-supporting and lower-growing plants are being bred and selected. Control slugs and snails to prevent damage to tender young shoots.

Apply mulch annually to help suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Many daisies grow vigorously and require little fertiliser. Apply a light spring dressing as new growth appears. Through the flowering season, deadhead spent flowers to encourage further flowering. Cut back in autumn.

Divide or take cuttings to revitalise. Dividing the plants in autumn to early winter enables the new plants to establish while the soil remains relatively warm. Dividing can be achieved by lifting the whole plant, placing two garden forks back-to-back in the middle of the clump then pushing in and forcing apart with the forks. The resulting clumps can then be divided further either with forks or by hand. The clumps should then be immediately re-planted in their new positions and watered. Large clumps should be divided every 2-3 years. If they aren't, the plant is likely to lose vigour and will not flower to its potential. A barren area in the centre of the clump. Alternatively, softwood cuttings can be taken in spring. Division is the quickest and easiest way of propagating asters.

This plant may require staking to hold up tall growth. In spring, insert four stakes in a rectangle around the plant. Tightly stretch soft square netting over the stakes at a reasonably low level. As the plant grows taller, add another layer of netting as required. As the plant grows, this netting will be hidden but the plant will still be held upright.

Avoid wet overwintering conditions.

Nectar source and host for butterflies. Also attracts birds and bees to the garden.

Space plants well apart to improve air circulation. This will prevent powdery mildew, which affects many daisies during summer and autumn. Caterpillars and earwigs can be troublesome as they often chew flowers and foliage in summer.

Perennial Garden

Asters are valuable late-flowering border plants, admired for their profusion of daisy-like flower heads. They provide a useful source of colour in late summer or autumn displays and are generally good for flower cuttings.