SYMPHYOTRICHUM turbinellum AGM (Dixter)

Description

Symphyotrichum turbinellum AGM (Dixter)

Height x Spread: 120cm x 50cm

Discovered at Great Dixter in Sussex, this delightful form of Symphyotrichum turbinellum has an open naturalistic habit with lots of pale lavender blue single flowers, each studded with a golden yellow centre.  These emerge in mid September held on willowy dark branching stems over mid green dagger-like foliage.  Beloved by bees, once pollinated the flower centres turn red, signalling to following pollinators that they are too late and need to move on to another flower.  Luckily for them 'Dixter' continues to flower deep into October so they should be satisfied.

Easy to grow and hardy, this form of 'prairie aster' enjoys a sunny position in any fairly fertile, free draining soil.  Pick out its graceful airiness with ornamental grasses such as Stipa tenuissima and Panicum, or combine it with Rudbeckia, Hylotelephium and Solidago for that classic autumnal colour combination.