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Morton Hall Gardens

Head Gardener’s Journal

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Welcome to our Head Gardener’s Journal

In this monthly column, we will share technical aspects of our work and also keep you up to date about ongoing projects. If there is any topic you might want to hear more about, please ask during your next visit!

Versatile Asters

Asters are stalwart plants for late summer and throughout the autumn. Following a recent reclassification, the term ‘aster’ is now reserved for Old World species, while those originating from the New World have been allocated to several related genera, such as eurybias and symphotrichums. This may be taxonomically correct, it is, however, rather confusing, and we will hopefully be forgiven for adhering to the familiar names.

Asters make great planting combinations, their soft mounds being ideal companions for architectural plants.

Aster ‘Lutetia’, sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ and verbena bonariensis define a long-lasting display in the ‘Lozenge Beds’ of our West Garden in August and September.
The slightly looser aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’ mingles with Cosmos sonata ‘Carmine’ in the South Garden. 2018
In the Rockery, shade-tolerant aster macrophyllus ‘Twilight’ softens the spikes of Roscoaes ‘Cinammon Stick’ and ‘Spice Island’.
Aster divaricatus, Ageratina altissima ‘Braunlaub’ and Hesperantha ‘Pink Princess’ convey the freshness of an autumn morning.
Aster divaricatus in a similar scene with Hesperantha coccinea, Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’against the stems of silver birches.

None of these varieties are prone to mildew!