Michaelmas Daisies and Asters From Seed

Aster ‘Composition’

Michaelmas Daisies are hardy perennials flowering late in the summer in a range of bright colours. Aster novi-belgi and Aster novae-angliae are both called Michaelmas Daisies and mixed together make a contrasting rich colour range of long stemmed autumnal flowers suitable for cutting.

Growing Instructions

• Germinate seeds between February and July at 68-86F on the surface of a good free draining, damp seed compost.
• Do not cover seed. Do not exclude light at any stage, as this helps germination.
• Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag until after germination which usually takes 21-100 days.
• Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into trays or 3in pots. Grow on in cooler, well lit conditions before planting out 12″ apart after all risk of frost has gone.
• Clumps of Michaelmas Daisies will develop over the years and can be split to increase the best plants.

Other sources
Michaelmas Asters 29th September
Michaelmas Daisies and Plants from Childhood
Seeds from Thompson & Morgan

The name Aster comes from the Ancient Greek word meaning “star” referring to the daisy like shape of the flower head. They are in the family Asteraceae part of the Daisy clan. There are 500+ species of Aster and many variety of hybrids that are popular as garden plants because of their attractive and colourful flowers.

Aster frikartii