Michaelmas Daisy can be fun to grow with lots of small daisy shaped flowers. Given reasonable conditions they can grow quickly and provide excellent height and flower in late autumn.

Asters of which Michaelmas Daisy is one species are considered easy to grow and are often considered to be a good plant for children. However, to get the best out of most plants requires a few careful points.

Choose the right variety. If you want to grow a tall sunflower try a specific variety such as

• Aster novi-belgii ‘Royal Ruby’ is a red flowering varieties, bursting into bloom in late summer when many other plants are beginning to fade. A superb clump forming perennial for the front of borders, and an excellent cut flower.
• Michaelmas Daisies or Aster novae-angliae are available in a contrasting rich colour range of long stemmed autumnal flowers for cutting.
• Aster novae-angliae ‘Harrington’s Pink’ grows 5 feet tall and is one of the easiest plants to take cuttings from.

Grow as Bunch or clump. Michaelmas Daisy can make an excellent impromptu screen for late summer. The height of taller varieties can divide a garden creating a natural sense of rooms – something top garden designers often go for.

Proper Staking. Preventing tall Michaelmas Daisy from falling over is one of the great challenges of growing them. Stake with bamboo canes or brushwood in early spring. If you grow them in blocks it will be easier to provide staking for the group; they will give each other support as they grow. Shorter varieties need no staking.

Feeding. Michaelmas Daisy enjoy a rich, moist well fed soil. If going for height, use a nitrogen based fertiliser, switching to potash (tomato food) as the buds begin to appear.

Watering.Michaelmas Daisy don’t like drying out and they can soon start to get mildew. Make sure they are well watered; each watering should aim to reach its roots, rather than just touching the surface.

Best Location. Michaelmas Daisy like a sunny position and preferably not too windy.

• Asters from Thompson Morgan

Michaelmas Daisy alba