Peter Dowdall: Why Michelmas daisy is a garden favourite

And Peter checks out how the perennial plant the aster has found its place in gardens across Munster and beyond

Aster x frikartii, 'Monch' a common cultivated herbaceous perennial hardy garden flower plant also known as Michaelmas daisy due to its late flowering period. Picture: iStock

Asters or Michelmas daisies which are coming into their own right now in the garden play host to over 100 species of caterpillar and more than 30 types of pollinating insects feed on the pollen of asters. 

For this reason, they are often referred to as a keystone plant.