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Changing Michaelmas Daisy

Aster x versicolor

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae (Daisy)
Also in this family:
Alpine Blue Sow-thistle, Alpine Cotula, Alpine Fleabane, Alpine Saw-wort, Annual Ragweed, Annual Sunflower, Argentine Fleabane, Autumn Hawkbit, Autumn Oxeye, Beaked Hawksbeard, Beggarticks, Bilbao Fleabane, Black Knapweed, Black-eyed Susan, Blanketflower, Blue Fleabane, Blue Globe-thistle, Bristly Oxtongue, Broad-leaved Cudweed, Broad-leaved Ragwort, Brown Knapweed, Butterbur, Buttonweed, Cabbage Thistle, Canadian Fleabane, Canadian Goldenrod, Carline Thistle, Chalk Knapweed, Chamois Ragwort, Chicory, Chinese Mugwort, Chinese Ragwort, Coltsfoot, Common Blue Sow-thistle, Common Cat's-ear, Common Cudweed, Common Daisy, Common Dandelion, Common Fleabane, Common Goldenrod, Common Groundsel, Common Michaelmas Daisy, Common Mugwort, Common Ragwort, Common Wormwood, Coneflower, Confused Michaelmas Daisy, Corn Chamomile, Corn Marigold, Cornflower, Cotton Thistle, Cottonweed, Creeping Thistle, Daisy Bush, Dwarf Cudweed, Dwarf Thistle, Early Goldenrod, Eastern Groundsel, Eastern Leopardsbane, Elecampane, English Hawkweed, Fen Ragwort, Feverfew, Field Fleawort, Field Wormwood, Fox and Cubs, French Tarragon, Gallant Soldier, Garden Lettuce, Giant Butterbur, Glabrous-headed Hawkweed, Glandular Globe-thistle, Glaucous Michaelmas Daisy, Globe Artichoke, Globe-thistle, Goat's Beard, Golden Ragwort, Golden Samphire, Goldilocks Aster, Grass-leaved Goldenrod, Great Lettuce, Greater Burdock, Greater Knapweed, Grey-headed Hawkweed, Guernsey Fleabane, Hairless Blue Sow-thistle, Hairless Leptinella, Hairy Michaelmas Daisy, Harpur Crewe's Leopardsbane, Hawkweed Oxtongue, Heath Cudweed, Heath Groundsel, Hemp Agrimony, Highland Cudweed, Hoary Mugwort, Hoary Ragwort, Hybrid Knapweed, Intermediate Burdock, Irish Fleabane, Jersey Cudweed, Jerusalem Artichoke, Lance-leaved Hawkweed, Lavender-cotton, Leafless Hawksbeard, Least Lettuce, Leopardplant, Leopardsbane, Leptinella, Lesser Burdock, Lesser Hawkbit, Lesser Sunflower, London Bur-marigold, Magellan Ragwort, Marsh Cudweed, Marsh Hawksbeard, Marsh Ragwort, Marsh Sow-thistle, Marsh Thistle, Meadow Thistle, Melancholy Thistle, Mexican Fleabane, Milk Thistle, Mountain Everlasting, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Musk Thistle, Narrow-leaved Cudweed, Narrow-leaved Hawkweed, Narrow-leaved Michaelmas Daisy, Narrow-leaved Ragwort, New England Hawkweed, New Zealand Holly, Nipplewort, Nodding Bur-marigold, Northern Hawksbeard, Norwegian Mugwort, Oxeye Daisy, Oxford Ragwort, Pearly Everlasting, Perennial Cornflower, Perennial Ragweed, Perennial Sow-thistle, Perennial Sunflower, Pineapple Mayweed, Plantain-leaved Leopardsbane, Ploughman's Spikenard, Plymouth Thistle, Pontic Blue Sow-thistle, Pot Marigold, Prickly Lettuce, Prickly Sow-thistle, Purple Coltsfoot, Rayed Tansy, Red Star Thistle, Red-seeded Dandelion, Red-tipped Cudweed, Robin's Plantain, Roman Chamomile, Rough Cocklebur, Rough Hawkbit, Rough Hawksbeard, Russian Lettuce, Safflower, Salsify, Saw-wort, Scented Mayweed, Scentless Mayweed, Sea Aster, Sea Mayweed, Sea Wormwood, Seaside Daisy, Shaggy Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Shaggy Soldier, Shasta Daisy, Shetland Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Shrub Ragwort, Sicilian Chamomile, Silver Ragwort, Slender Mugwort, Slender Thistle, Small Cudweed, Small Fleabane, Smooth Cat's-ear, Smooth Hawksbeard, Smooth Sow-thistle, Sneezeweed, Sneezewort, Spear Thistle, Spotted Cat's-ear, Spotted Hawkweed, Sticky Groundsel, Stinking Chamomile, Stinking Hawksbeard, Tall Fleabane, Tall Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Tansy, Thin-leaved Sunflower, Treasureflower, Trifid Bur-marigold, Tuberous Thistle, Tyneside Leopardplant, Viper's Grass, Wall Lettuce, Welsh Groundsel, Welted Thistle, White African Daisy, White Butterbur, White Buttons, Willdenow's Leopardsbane, Winter Heliotrope, Wood Burdock, Wood Ragwort, Woody Fleabane, Woolly Thistle, Yarrow, Yellow Chamomile, Yellow Fox and Cubs, Yellow Oxeye, Yellow Star Thistle, Yellow Thistle, York Groundsel
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
60 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Gardens, meadows, roadsides, wasteland, woodland.

Flower:
֍
Variable in colour, many petals
 
The flowers appear in clusters and are whitish at first, turning dark blue to purple later. The outer bracts of the flower are about half the length of the inner bracts.
Fruit:
The fruit is an achene.
Leaves:
Broadly lance-shaped, slightly toothed,green leaves. The stems are often reddish. Changing Michaelmas Daisy is a hybrid between Glaucous Michaelmas Daisy (Aster laevis) and Confused Michaelmas Daisy (Aster novi-belgii). Perennial.
Other Names:
Late Michaelmas Daisy, New England Aster.
Frequency (UK):
Occasionally seen  

Similar Species

Other Information

Summary

Aster x versicolor, also known as New England aster or a cultivar of it, is a hybrid species of perennial wildflower in the Asteraceae family. It is a cross between two other species, Aster novae-angliae and Aster prenanthoides. It is native to North America, and it is typically found growing in meadows, prairies, and open woods. The plant typically grows to a height of 2 feet and produces showy, daisy-like flowers with yellow or orange centers and purple or pink petals. The leaves are long and narrow, and they are arranged alternately on the stem. The plant blooms from late summer to fall, and its flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. It is often used in gardens and landscaping for its attractive flowers, and it is also used in wildflower seed mixtures for the restoration of native habitats. Cultivars of this species come in many different colors and sizes.

Blog

Michaelmas Daisy, also known as Aster x versicolor, is a beautiful flowering plant that is native to North America. It is a hardy perennial that can grow up to 2 feet tall and spread up to 3 feet wide. Michaelmas Daisy is a popular choice among gardeners because of its beautiful, long-lasting blooms that come in shades of pink, blue, purple, and white.

While Michaelmas Daisy is a hardy plant, it still requires proper care and maintenance to ensure it thrives in your garden. Here are some tips for changing Michaelmas Daisy and keeping it healthy and beautiful:

  1. Choose the right location: Michaelmas Daisy thrives in full sun to partial shade. Make sure to choose a location in your garden that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. The soil should be well-draining, as Michaelmas Daisy does not like to sit in water.

  2. Prepare the soil: Michaelmas Daisy prefers a slightly acidic soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5. If your soil is too alkaline, you can add sulfur to lower the pH. If your soil is too acidic, you can add lime to raise the pH. Work in plenty of organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to improve the soil's fertility and drainage.

  3. Plant at the right time: Michaelmas Daisy can be planted in the spring or fall. If you are planting in the fall, make sure to do so at least 6 weeks before the first frost date in your area. This will give the plant enough time to establish itself before winter.

  4. Water regularly: Michaelmas Daisy likes to be kept moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply once a week, or more often if the weather is hot and dry.

  5. Fertilize: Michaelmas Daisy benefits from a balanced fertilizer applied in the spring, just as the new growth begins to emerge.

  6. Deadhead regularly: To encourage continuous blooming, deadhead spent flowers regularly. This will also prevent the plant from self-seeding and spreading too much.

  7. Divide every few years: Michaelmas Daisy can become overcrowded over time, leading to reduced blooming and overall health. To keep the plant vigorous, divide it every few years in the spring or fall.

By following these tips, you can keep your Michaelmas Daisy healthy and vibrant for years to come. Changing this beautiful plant can be a rewarding experience, as it adds color and interest to any garden.

Additional Information

Michaelmas Daisy, also known as Aster x versicolor, is a beautiful flowering plant that is native to North America. It is a hardy perennial that can grow up to 2 feet tall and spread up to 3 feet wide. Michaelmas Daisy is a popular choice among gardeners because of its beautiful, long-lasting blooms that come in shades of pink, blue, purple, and white.

To ensure that your Michaelmas Daisy thrives in your garden, there are several things you can do. First, choose the right location. Michaelmas Daisy prefers full sun to partial shade, so make sure to choose a location in your garden that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. The soil should be well-draining, as Michaelmas Daisy does not like to sit in water.

Before planting, prepare the soil. Michaelmas Daisy prefers a slightly acidic soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5. If your soil is too alkaline, you can add sulfur to lower the pH. If your soil is too acidic, you can add lime to raise the pH. Work in plenty of organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to improve the soil's fertility and drainage.

When planting, make sure to do so at the right time. Michaelmas Daisy can be planted in the spring or fall. If you are planting in the fall, make sure to do so at least 6 weeks before the first frost date in your area. This will give the plant enough time to establish itself before winter.

Water Michaelmas Daisy regularly, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply once a week, or more often if the weather is hot and dry. Fertilize the plant with a balanced fertilizer in the spring, just as the new growth begins to emerge.

To encourage continuous blooming, deadhead spent flowers regularly. This will also prevent the plant from self-seeding and spreading too much. Michaelmas Daisy can become overcrowded over time, leading to reduced blooming and overall health. To keep the plant vigorous, divide it every few years in the spring or fall.

By following these tips, you can keep your Michaelmas Daisy healthy and vibrant for years to come. Changing this beautiful plant can be a rewarding experience, as it adds color and interest to any garden.

Michaelmas Daisy is a low-maintenance plant, but it still requires proper care and attention to keep it healthy and looking its best. One of the most important things you can do for your Michaelmas Daisy is to mulch around the base of the plant. Mulching helps to retain moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

When mulching, make sure to leave a small gap around the base of the plant to prevent the mulch from touching the stems. This can cause the stems to rot and damage the plant.

In addition to regular watering and fertilization, it is also important to monitor your Michaelmas Daisy for pests and diseases. Common pests that can affect Michaelmas Daisy include aphids, spider mites, and slugs. To prevent pest infestations, keep the area around the plant clean and free of debris. You can also use natural pest control methods, such as spraying the plant with a mixture of water and dish soap or introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs.

Michaelmas Daisy can also be susceptible to diseases like powdery mildew and root rot. To prevent these diseases, avoid overwatering the plant and make sure to plant it in well-draining soil. If you notice signs of disease, such as yellowing leaves or a powdery white substance on the leaves, treat the plant with a fungicide.

One of the great things about Michaelmas Daisy is that it attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies to your garden. These insects are important for the health of your garden, as they help to pollinate other plants and promote biodiversity. Michaelmas Daisy is also deer-resistant, making it a good choice for gardens in areas where deer are common.

If you are looking for a plant that adds color to your garden in the fall, Michaelmas Daisy is a great choice. Its blooms typically appear from August to October, adding a burst of color to your garden just as other plants are starting to fade. The flowers are also long-lasting and make excellent cut flowers for indoor arrangements.

When selecting Michaelmas Daisy for your garden, there are many different cultivars to choose from. Some popular varieties include 'Alma Potschke', which has deep pink flowers, and 'Professor Kippenburg', which has purple flowers with yellow centers. There are also dwarf varieties available, such as 'Purple Dome', which only grows to about 1 foot tall.

In summary, Michaelmas Daisy is a beautiful and hardy plant that is easy to care for and adds color and interest to any garden. By choosing the right location, preparing the soil, and providing proper care, you can ensure that your Michaelmas Daisy thrives in your garden for years to come. With its long-lasting blooms, attractiveness to pollinators, and deer resistance, it is a great choice for any gardener looking to add a pop of color to their outdoor space.


Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

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