october Plant of the Month
Autumn flowering daisies are a joy! They are also of immense value to pollinating insects, especially butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees and hoverflies in autumn.
Michaelmas daisies used to be known as Asters, but they have been moved into a group of their own and are now known as Symphyotrichum. Not so easy to remember I find!
‘Vesta’ is the white form of Symphyotrichum laeve with dark, willowy stems that set off the gleaming white flowers. This one has very vigorous spreading growth, so use it in a big border where you don’t mind it filling in around shrubs. A sunny position is best. Mildew resistant, even in the dry conditions of this summer. Tall at 180cm.
Photographed on 6th October in the churchyard at St James, Didsbury, where it has been flowering since mid September. We’ll certainly have enough to propagate from in the spring.
