Michaelmas daisies are beautiful, tough, herbaceous perennial plants that are easy to grow and look after. The daisy flowers are bright and cheerful, which provide a useful splash of colour at the end of the year. Their colours are mainly restricted to pinks and purples, though the range of shades seems almost infinite – they vary from soft pink to nearly red or blue. There are also white forms.

These plants will grow in a wide range of soils, even poor ones, but they do best where there is humus in the soil to retain moisture. Michaelmas daisies can be planted at any time of the year as long as they are watered well before lifting and again after planting.

Aster amellus do not like damp areas, but they also dislike soil that dries out and are likely to suffer mildew in such conditions. Water regularly during dry spells and deadhead regularly to prolong flowering. The stems of these plants don’t normally need support, except in windy areas where they may require staking. The cold shouldn’t present any problems during the winter.

Growing Requirements

Position
While they will grow in light shade, Michaelmas daisies will always do best in full sun. If they are planted under trees or against a north wall, they become drawn and often suffer from mildew. They are best in an open site, where air can circulate freely which will help to avoid mildew problems

Size
Michaelmas daisies vary in size and can reach a height of 1ft to 4ft (30cm to 1.2m) and spread about 2ft (60cm).

Propagation
Propagation is easily achieved by division in the spring. They can also be grown from seed. Sow the seed in spring. Germination can be improved by chilling.

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Aster

Ornamental garden plants can be broken down into several different groups. Some of the groups overlap, for example, most trees and shrubs will also fall into the perennial group.

Trees
Trees are usually the largest and most prominent plants in a garden and form the backdrop that will influence the selection of other plants. Trees are perennial, usually having a single woody stem, and may be evergreen or deciduous. They are found in most parts of the world and so there is a huge variety of ornamental trees and plenty of choice for most types of garden.

Shrubs
Shrubs are woody-stemmed perennial plants, usually free-branching from the base rather than the single stem of a tree. As with trees, shrubs can be deciduous or evergreen, but they have a breathtaking variety of ornamental features such as shape, growing habits, striking flowers, eye-catching fruit and beautiful foliage.

Climbers
Climbing plants use other plants, rocks or man-made structures for support. These valuable deciduous or evergreen plants can be used to cover-up wall or fences or to provide ornamental screening. Some will have a self-clinging or twining habit whilst others will require ties or some sort of additional support.

Perennials
Perennials are plants that live for two years or longer and they will flower once they are mature. The term is most commonly used to describe garden plants that die back each year after flowering and seeding, issuing new growth in the spring. They can be grown in herbaceous borders, as specimen plants or in containers.

Rock Plants
Rock plants are a mixture of shrubs, bulbs and hardy perennials originating from mountainous regions. They grow on or among rocks and are suitable for a rock gardens. Rock plants are adapted to growing in thin, well-drained soil and at altitude. They can survive temperature extremes but not excessive wet conditions. Alpines are included in this group.

Annuals and Biennials
An annual plant is, as the name suggests, one with a lifespan of within one year. A biennial will normally only sport foliage in its first year, going on to flower, set seed and die the following year. These plants are free-flowering and are easy to grow from seed. They can be used as bedding plants, grown in containers or hanging baskets, or used amongst shrubs and perennials.

Bulbous Plants
Bulbous plants, more commonly know as bulbs, are grown chiefly for their beautiful flowers. They originate from all parts of the world and this group also covers plants with tubers, corms and rhizomes. Bulbs usually have a long dormant period that is often spent underground. Some bulbs can provide an early splash of colour in spring, some thrive in borders whilst others make great container plants.