On a recent journey across Yorkshire along the M62 over the Pennines, I found myself captivated by an unexpected sight. Stretching along the central reservation were drifts of Michaelmas daisies, their purple flowers glowing against the fading colours of autumn. Closer to home, I most associate them with our riverside nature reserves, particularly Maze Park and Portrack Marsh on the River Tees, where they thrive amongst grasses and scrub and bring vibrant colour to the late-season landscape.

Growing to over a metre tall, Michaelmas daisies produce masses of daisy-like flowers, each with colourful petals surrounding a bright yellow centre. When they grow in large colonies, they create spectacular clouds of purple that brighten roadsides, riverbanks and gardens alike.

For such a familiar flower of Teesside, it may come as a surprise that Michaelmas daisies are not native to Britain. Originally from North America, they were introduced to British gardens in the seventeenth century. Over time they escaped cultivation and became naturalised, establishing self-sustaining populations across the country.

They are particularly successful at colonising disturbed habitats such as roadsides, railway embankments, waste ground, riverbanks and old industrial sites. Their seeds are equipped with tiny parachutes of hairs that help them travel on the wind, while the slipstream from vehicles and trains may aid their spread even further. Discarded garden material has also helped them establish new colonies over the years.

Despite their success, I see them as a welcome addition to our urban and semi-natural landscapes. Just as many nectar-rich flowers are beginning to fade, Michaelmas daisies come into their own. Their masses of blooms attract honeybees, bumblebees, hoverflies and butterflies, providing an important source of nectar and pollen late into the season when food can be scarce.

The benefits do not stop once the flowers have faded. Left standing through winter, the stems provide shelter for insects and food for seed-eating birds. Frost-covered seed heads can be strikingly beautiful too, adding structure and interest to the winter garden.

At first glance, Michaelmas daisies might seem straightforward to identify, but botanists know otherwise. What we casually call "Michaelmas daisies" actually includes a variety of species, hybrids and cultivated forms. One day I may take a closer look at their complicated taxonomy, though perhaps not while travelling along the motorway!

So where does the name come from? Michaelmas daisies take their name from Michaelmas, the Christian feast of St Michael on 29 September. Their flowering season begins around this time and often continues well into October, sometimes even later in mild years.

For me, they have always felt like flowers of reflection. As summer slips away, they remind us to appreciate the beauty and abundance of the months gone by. Their appearance coincides with harvest time, a season of gratitude and preparation for the darker days ahead.

It is easy to see why gardeners have treasured Michaelmas daisies for generations. Once a staple of cottage gardens, they fit just as comfortably into modern wildlife-friendly and naturalistic plantings.

Whenever I see their purple blooms glowing beside a road, river or railway line, I am reminded that autumn is not simply a season of endings. It is also a season of resilience, beauty and continuity. While much of the landscape is settling down for winter, Michaelmas daisies choose that moment to put on their greatest show, offering one last burst of colour for people and wildlife alike.