Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Little Pink Beauty'
By the team at Barnsdale Gardens.
October's pick is Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Little Pink Beauty' — still better known to many gardeners by its older name, Aster novi-belgii, or simply the New York aster.
Ours is currently thick with buds rather than flowers, but it's one of the later Michaelmas daisies to open, which means it will still be going once earlier varieties have finished for the year.
Why Choose Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Little Pink Beauty'
It's a shorter, more compact variety than many New York asters, which suits it well to the front of the border rather than needing to be tucked in behind taller neighbours. Being short, it doesn't need staking. And its later flowering is a genuine strength in the border calendar: as other asters go over, this one is only just getting started, stretching the season of interest further into autumn.
Where to Plant Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Little Pink Beauty'
We grow it in two spots at Barnsdale: the Modern Estate Garden and the Versailles borders. Like most New York asters, it's happiest in full sun with reasonably fertile, moisture-retentive soil. One thing worth knowing honestly: in a hot, dry summer like this one, it can be prone to powdery mildew — ours has shown a fair amount this year, though in a cooler, damper season it's typically untroubled. Good air movement around the plant, and not letting it dry out completely, will help keep it in check.
Planting Companions and Garden Design Ideas
It isn't planted with any one fixed partner at Barnsdale, but it earns its place well alongside other late-summer and autumn perennials — Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude', Solidago, Rudbeckia, and Echinacea all share its season, and a grasses add movement alongside its neat, low flowers.
Growing and Propagating Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Little Pink Beauty'
'Little Pink Beauty' clumps up well, which makes it an easy plant to divide when it outgrows its space — do this in early spring. Softwood cuttings taken in spring are another straightforward way to increase your stock. It doesn't need staking, and once the stems have browned and lost their interest, usually well into autumn, they can be cut back for the winter.
Wildlife Value in the Garden
Once it opens, expect the usual late-season visitors: bees, hoverflies, and butterflies all make good use of it as one of the last reliable nectar sources before the borders quieten down for winter.
See Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Little Pink Beauty' at Barnsdale Gardens
Look for it in the Modern Estate Garden, where it's currently in bud and should be opening soon. Our patch in the Versailles borders has had a rather less peaceful year — it's been grazed by hares and won't be flowering this time around, so the Modern Estate Garden is the place to see it.
Plants are available in our nursery, or you can buy Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Little Pink Beauty' online from Barnsdale Gardens by clicking here.
