This vibrant aster is putting on a late show of colour in the Autumn Garden.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘Alma Pötschke’ (syn. Aster novae-angliae ‘Adenken Alma Potschke’) is one of many late-flowering New England asters originating from eastern North America. It is a clump-forming perennial, with erect stems reaching 1.2m in height, and producing terminal sprays of shocking pink, daisy-like flowers. These are typical of members of the daisy family (Asteraceae) to which it belongs, having a central button-like disc floret of many small, yellow flowers, surmounted by slender ray florets. ‘Alma Pötschke’ was raised by the German plant breeding family Pötschke, and was introduced into cultivation in 1969. It is invaluable in the autumn garden, both for its colour, but also for attracting bees and butterflies.