Aster novi-belgii ‘Henri Picot’

Aster novi-belgii ‘Henri Picot’ forms a very tall, bushy clump of dark green foliage and bright blue flowers.

The leaves are dark green and known for their health and longevity.

The flowers are bright blue, delicate and star-shaped.

The blooming period is long and highly attractive to pollinators.

This variety is particularly tall, producing great numbers of tall flowers, which are ideal for cut flower bouquets or floral arrangements.

👨‍🌾GARDENING TIPS👨‍🌾: 

• • ☀️Prefers a strong morning sunshine to a blast of afternoon heat💠
  • 💧Applying mulch around the clump will help retain moisture for a longer period.
  • ✂️ Cutting back the stems to 20cm from the ground in January promotes a strong reconstitution
  • ➗Divide the clumps as they begin to multiply. It isn’t invasive, but can be a vigorous grower.

The Tale:

This Aster was a favorite of Henri Picot, a botanist at the Arboretum de Balaine (in the center of France) and so his name was attributed to this cultivar.

The name Aster comes from the Ancient Greek word ἀστήρ (astḗr) which means ‘star’ – we’ll assume that it refers to the shape of the flower head.

The genus used to encompass over 600 species, but various studies showed that the families of North America are actually a different kettle of fish. Today, the Aster family encompasses around 170 species, all but one of which are restricted to Eurasia.

This particular Aster is an Aster pilosum or ericoides var. pringlei, making it a native to eastern North America.

It is one of the few flowers that blooms in fall – specifically during Michaelmas (29 September) – which is why there is even a rhyme in its honor!

• • “The Michaelmas daisies, among dead weeds, Bloom for St Michael’s valorous deeds”