Dwarf aster | Aster dumosus 'Apollo'

When the rest of the garden starts to wind down, Aster dumosus 'Apollo' is just getting started. This compact, dome-forming aster produces masses of white daisy-like flowers with bright yellow centres from late summer into autumn, bringing clean, cheerful colour to borders and pots right when you need it most. It is a genuinely valuable late-season performer.

'Apollo' has a naturally rounded, dome-shaped habit that is almost sculptural when covered in its crisp white flowers. The blooms are classic daisy form — white ray petals surrounding a warm yellow centre — and they are produced in enormous quantities across the entire plant. Against the dark green, slightly rough-textured foliage, the white flowers look particularly fresh and bright. It works beautifully at the front of a border, in large containers, or massed in groups. The clean white colouring sits well alongside late-season purples, blues, and warm golds.

Dwarf asters grow in a compact, bushy, dome-shaped form, reaching around 30 to 40 cm at maturity — much more manageable than taller aster varieties. Supplied at 20 cm in a 9 cm pot, it establishes quickly and should flower in its first season. It suits the front or middle of a sunny border, containers on a patio or step, or massed planting for autumn impact. Spreads gradually each year to form a wider, denser clump.

Asters thrive in full sun or very light partial shade. A sunny, open position produces the best flowering and also helps reduce the risk of powdery mildew, which can affect plants in humid, shaded spots. Good air circulation around the plant is helpful. Avoid very exposed, windy positions that may damage the flower stems. In containers, position in the sunniest spot available.

Aster dumosus 'Apollo' is manageable once you know what it needs. Water consistently, particularly during dry spells, and avoid letting it dry out completely when in bud or flower. Pinching out the growing tips in early summer encourages a bushier, more floriferous plant. Cut back to ground level after flowering finishes in autumn. Divide established clumps every two or three years to keep them vigorous. A light feed in spring gives them a good start.

Good gardens have something to offer at every point in the season, and Aster 'Apollo' makes sure the late summer and autumn chapter is worth reading. The combination of that fresh white, the yellow-centred flowers, and the sheer abundance of blooms makes a real statement when neighbouring plants are starting to fade. It is the kind of plant that makes people ask what it is in September.

• Late Season Star: Flowers from late summer into autumn when most other perennials are done.
• Compact and Tidy: The dome-shaped habit stays neat and manageable in borders or containers.
• Pollinator Favourite: Bees and butterflies love the abundant daisy flowers.
• Great in Groups: Mass-planted, the effect is genuinely spectacular.
• Easy to Grow: A reliable, straightforward perennial that rewards basic care.

If your late summer border feels flat, Aster 'Apollo' is the answer. Clean white flowers, compact habit, and absolutely no drama. Plant it and watch your garden finish the season with a flourish.

• Size at dispatch: 20 cm in height, and comes in a 9 cm pot
• Care level: Medium
• Pet safety: No, toxic to pets