Symphyotrichum, Michaelmas Daisy, New England Aster 'Alma Potschke'

The strong color is unique among New England Asters. I'd describe it as "hot pink". Catalogs often describe it as "salmon-pink", which it...Read More certainly is not.

I find it flops unless staked or cut back in June.

As with all New England asters, some people develop a rash after handling the hairy foliage.

This aster is so very easy to grow in zone 5 and gives a beautiful display of color. It is quite fuss free and dependable. It does need...Read More to be sheared to 2/3 it's height in late spring as it sprouts so fast and needs dividing every 2 years or so. I combine it with white boltonia asteroid for a very attractive display in late summer/eary fall. The only negative I'd say is it attracts bees. Will post a picture soon.

This plant remains quiet until late summer/early fall when it explodes in bright pink. It does gain size steadily - great to pass along to others.

We're in Zone 4 due to the fact we're out on a farm and there is little protection from the wintry elements. I planted 10 asters of this...Read More type in our gardens that I purchased for 25 cents each. They were stressed and nearly dead but for a quarter ...... who cares. Half of them died over winter but we ended up with 5 nice plants in the spring that began blooming around August 1st and are still showing blooms as of November 1st. They are as nice or better than Chrysanthemums for fall color. We have them in Lavendar, Purple and Pink. I'm looking to add Red and White next year. They are really nice. We have little else to compare with in the fall but they are the best of what we have for fall flowers.