Aster amellus aka European Michaelmas Daisy

Aster amellus is a perennial in the daisy family, Asteraceae. Its common names include Italian aster and Italian starwort. Its native range covers Europe and parts of temperate Asia. Records include France, Italy, central Europe, Turkey, and Kazakhstan. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Wild plants grow beside woods and among scrub. Reports also place it near lakes and in marshy ground. Many sites have limestone soils.

The plant forms clumps, with stems that stand or arch. Fine hairs cover the plant, and its leaves are lance-shaped. The leaves are mid-green and fall away for winter. RHS lists a garden height of up to 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. Its fuller description gives 1–2 feet [0.3–0.6 metres]. Mature clumps spread 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] across. Plants take two to five years to reach full size. Loose flower clusters appear from late summer into autumn. Lilac-blue flowerheads have yellow centres and span about two inches. Each cluster can reach about six inches across.

Grow this species in full sun and soil that drains well. It needs moderate soil fertility rather than very rich ground. RHS lists chalk, clay, loam, and sand as suitable soils. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all fall within its range. The supplied moisture guidance covers dry to moist conditions. Plants can grow in exposed sites or with shelter. RHS rates its cold hardiness as H7. This rating covers severe European winters below minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Italian aster suits flower beds, borders, and informal cottage gardens. RHS also suggests courtyards, coastal gardens, pots, and wildflower meadows. It can grow beneath roses and shrubs. Its flowers also serve as cut flowers. Divide clumps in spring to make more plants. Soft basal shoots can also provide spring cuttings. Remove faded flowers to keep the clump tidy. Cut stems near ground level in late autumn. Slugs, snails, and leaf or bud eelworms may cause damage. RHS also lists wilt, powdery mildew, and grey mould risks.

Plants For A Future gives it an edibility score of two. However, its cooked-leaf use applies only to unspecified varieties. That report does not establish food use for every plant. The same source records traditional root remedies for several ailments. These include coughs, lung complaints, indigestion, and boils. It reports no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. It records no other uses and flags no weed potential.