The Aster genus with over 250 species provides us with many plants suitable for the rock garden. Without doubt the most widely grown is the ubiquitous alpine Aster Alpinus from the European Alps, which is easy to cater for in the garden and is of course a very attractive plant. 

Flowering in June when most spring Alpines are on the wane, it nevertheless seems to have lost some of its popularity amongst present day gardeners. Forms of A. alpinus may vary in height, size or colour of flower. The 2014 seed exchanges listed ten different colours or cultivars including albus, ‘Blue’, roseus and others.

The most desirable forms are compact and low-growing with solid flowers of bright purple on 12 to 15 cm stems surrounding a golden disc. Any well-drained soil, ideally neutral to alkaline, will yield results and I find it enjoys a sunny aspect in a raised bed or large trough. Easily propagated from seed or divisions in spring, seedlings develop quickly, reaching flowering size in one year.