This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: well-cultivated, fertile, moist soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: August to October
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Asters are one of the best plants for adding late summer and autumn colour to the garden. They are quite undemanding and will grow in most soils. This one produces a mass of white daisy-like flowers, each opening to reveal a golden-yellow eye. They can be cut and added to both fresh and dried arrangements, although you will want to leave some in the garden so the butterflies and bees can enjoy them too.
  
  
• Garden care: Stake with bamboo canes or brushwood in early spring. Water regularly during dry spells and deadhead to prolong flowering. After flowering cut the flowered stems to the ground and apply a generous mulch of well-rotted garden compost or horse manure around the base of the plant. Seedlings rarely come true to the parent plant, but asters are one of the easiest plants to take cuttings from. All you need to do is pull away sideshoots that have already rooted. These can then be potted up individually or planted directly in to the garden.