Aster Professor Anton Kippenburg

Description

Aster ‘Professor Anton Kippenberg’ – dwarf aster

Botanical name: Symphyotrichum novi-belgii ‘Professor Anton Kippenberg’
Common names: Dwarf aster, Michaelmas daisy
Family: Asteraceae (daisy family)
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Habit: Compact, bushy, cushion-forming
Pot size: 2–3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 30–45cm tall × 45cm spread
Foliage: Lance-shaped green leaves forming a neat, bushy mound; deciduous
Flowers: Masses of semi-double, clear lavender-blue daisy flowers with golden centres in autumn (September–October)
Scent: Not notably scented
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Moist but well-drained, fertile; dislikes drying out; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 4–8
Exposure: Open, sunny; good air circulation
Native range: Garden form; the parent species are native to North America
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Aster ‘Professor Anton Kippenberg’ is a compact, reliable aster smothered in semi-double, clear lavender-blue daisies in autumn. Neat and long-flowering, it is superb for the front of borders, pots and pollinators.

GardenAdvice notes

One of the finest of all late-season perennials, this dwarf aster (Michaelmas daisy) forms a neat, cushion-like mound that smothers itself in cheerful daisy flowers from late summer into autumn, bringing invaluable colour as the garden fades — and a crucial late source of nectar for bees and butterflies. As a compact dumosus-type aster it has better mildew resistance than the old Michaelmas daisies, and is easy and reliable.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring or autumn in moist but well-drained, fertile soil in full sun to partial shade, with good air circulation — asters dislike drying out, which encourages mildew, so reliable moisture matters. Space about 30–40cm apart. Water in dry spells.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. Keep the soil from drying out. Cut down old growth in late winter, leaving seed heads for winter interest if wished. Lift and divide every two to three years in spring to keep it vigorous and healthy — the key to good, mildew-free plants.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide established clumps in spring, as growth begins.

Pests & diseases

Michaelmas daisies can be prone to powdery mildew, especially if they dry out or lack air movement. Keeping them moist, dividing regularly and ensuring good air circulation are the best defences. As a compact dumosus-type aster it has better mildew resistance than the old Michaelmas daisies, and is easy and reliable.

Uses in the garden

Superb at the front of mixed, cottage and wildlife borders and in containers, where its neat cushion of late daisy flowers brings colour and life from late summer into autumn; invaluable for late pollinators.

Wildlife value

One of the very best plants for late-season pollinators: the daisy flowers are a crucial source of nectar for bees and butterflies in autumn, when little else is in bloom.

Toxicity & safety

Michaelmas daisy is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.

GardenAdvice tip

A deservedly popular old favourite, ‘Professor Anton Kippenberg’ forms a tidy, compact mound smothered in clear lavender-blue semi-double daisies — one of the best dwarf blue asters, and reliably free-flowering. Keep it reasonably moist and divide it every couple of years, and it will give you sheets of late colour alive with pollinators.

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