Aster novi-belgii Marie Ballard (Michaelmas Daisy)

Aster novi-belgii 'Marie Ballard' is a charming perennial perfect for adding a splash of colour to your late-season garden. Renowned for its profuse display of double, lavender-blue blooms, this award-winning variety is a recipient of the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM), recognising its reliable performance, exceptional beauty, and resilience. With a long flowering period of up to six weeks, 'Marie Ballard' provides continuous interest from late summer into autumn, brightening borders just as other plants begin to fade.

Reaching an approximate height of 90 cm and spreading to around 60 cm, this semi-compact, bushy aster maintains its shape without the need for support, making it ideal for low-maintenance gardening. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, attracting bees and butterflies and enhancing the ecological value of your garden. Supplied as bare root plants, Aster 'Marie Ballard' establishes quickly and flourishes with minimal care, creating a reliable and elegant display perfect for cottage gardens, mixed borders, or cutting gardens.

Botanical Name: Aster novi-belgii 'Marie Ballard'
Common Name: Michaelmas Daisy
Flower Colour: Double, lavender-blue blooms
Height: Approximately 90 cm
Spread: Around 60 cm
Flowering Period: Late summer to autumn; blooms can last up to six weeks
Key Features: Recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM) for reliable performance and beauty; semi-compact and bushy habit that maintains shape without support
Sunlight: Thrives in full sun
Soil: Prefers well-drained soil
Wildlife Attraction: Attracts bees and butterflies
Supplied As: Bare root plants
Ideal For: Cottage gardens, mixed borders, and cutting gardens
Maintenance: Low-maintenance; easy to establish and care for
Planting Density: Approximately 4-6 plants per square metre
Dispatch: Spring, March/April
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