This Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘Andenken an Alma Potschke’ breaks several of my self-imposed rules of acquisition. In fact it not only breaks them, it grinds them into the dust with the heel of its steel tipped cowboy boot. This list (in no particular order and compiled after much soul-searching) includes but is not confined to the following:
I will never ever acquire a plant
- The name of which I can’t pronounce without inciting extensive sniggering from others, even after prolonged practice on my part.
- Whose moniker does not fit onto a standard plant label however weeny you write.
- That has been renamed to the detriment of the sensitive gardener (in the good old days when it was simply “Aster” life was so much easier).
- That has designs on world domination.
- That is best friends with powdery mildew.
I can’t even stick to my own rules, there really is no hope. She is rather pretty though, don’t you think?
Off The Edge Gardening 
She has a strong personality! Lovely
LikeLike
Very! I wonder who she was?
LikeLike
Love it, I looked and said that looks just like an aster!
LikeLike
We could always rebel and call it an Aster!
LikeLike
She is pretty, no doubt. But how did you get to this set of rules you’re not sticking to?
LikeLike
They are of my own making!
LikeLike
Lovely!
I am so enjoying your dips into the archives.
LikeLike
It is definitely giving me incentive to get them sorted!
LikeLike
Lovely. I’d certainly grow it if I had a garden, or room on the plot. xx
LikeLike
One to add to the list, we always called her Alma, so much easier! 🙂
LikeLike
Very pretty. I wonder if you couldn’t dispense with the rule about plant names having to fit onto standard plant labels? The labels always seem to get lost or crumble into bits anyway.
LikeLike
It would crumble away with exhaustion after writing this name on it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is not poor old Alma’s fault that she got stuck with such a long name, mine came from Great Dixter in 1998, survived some dreadful winters in Yorkshire, two even more dreadful winters down here in Devon is a small cramped pot and yet now blooms her little bright pink socks off every year and has never had mildew. Let’s rebel and just call her ‘Aster Alma’, she deserves her space in my garden.
LikeLike
Or even AA!
LikeLike