Plants for Late Season Colour

Aster frikartii ‘Monch’ is probably one of the top ten border plants, this traditional lavender-blue aster offers several advantages over other Michaelmas Daisies. It has a longer flowering season,beginning earlier, in mid-summer, and continuing into autumn. It doesn't really need staking, and is mildew-resistant. It is also exceptionally free flowering,with an attractive colour that is easy to place as it associates well with so many summer and autumn flowers. Asters are best grown in a sunny or partially shaded position with fertile, well-drained soil. It requires adequate moisture throughout summer. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its Award of Garden Merit.

Aster 'Little Carlow' is probably the most fashionable Michaelmas Daisy of the moment, and rightly so. This is a hybrid between Aster cordifolius and A. novi-belgii. It has single flowers with lilac-blue petals and yellow centres, which appear on sturdy stems in late September. It is a healthy plant which forms a good, dense clump of dark green leaves and grows to 90cm (3ft) or more.

Aster pyrenaeus ‘Lutetia’ is an easy to grow ‘Michaelmas Daisy’ which has graceful wiry stems which are covered in pale lilac blue daisies for many, many weeks in late summer and autumn. This is a low-growing variety that is ideal for use at the front of the border or along the edge of a path. It thrives in any well drained and sunny position. Clumps benefit from regular division to keep them healthy and vigorous. Aster pyrenaeus ‘Lutetia’ is great for adding late season colour to the front of the herbaceous border.

Although Cirsium rivulare is related to the garden thistles that we gardeners strive so hard to get rid of, Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’is a tall perennial, a statuesque plant that is perfect for the herbaceous border. It produces elegant, long, leafless stems, each topped with a huge magenta-pink thistle head. Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ is a useful plant for the back of the border but can also be planted at the front as an accent plant, because other plants can be viewed through its stems. Plant Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’in any fertile, well-drained, soil in full sun. Height up to 90cm