Aster novi-belgii 'Barbados' (Island Series)
New York aster
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: well-cultivated, fertile, moist soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: September to October
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Well branched sprays of violet flowerheads with yellow centres top strong growing, erect stems from late summer and often last until the first frosts. They act as a magnet for butterflies. - Garden care: Stake with bamboo canes or brushwood in early spring. Water regularly during dry spells and deadhead regularly to prolong flowering. After flowering cut the flowered stems to the ground and apply a generous mulch of well-rotted garden compost or horse manure around the base of the plant. Seedlings rarely come true to the host plant.
Asters are one of the easiest plants to take cuttings from. All you need to do is pull away sideshoots that have already rooted. These can then be potted up individually or planted directly in to the garden.
- Eventual Height: 40cm
- Eventual Spread: 40cm