Yes Michaelmas Daisies are Asters.
Aster amellus is the botanical name for them.

yep they are one of many types of Aster. The name Aster refers to what in biology is called a Genus. Plants in the same genus are all closely related.

Thank you for clearing that up for me!

........and a most valuable autumn flower for attracting bees and butterflies......I have loved them ever since my parents grew them when I was a child.

And there are a lot of species and even more cultivars.
The Picton garden they showed is definitely worth a visit (near Malvern) in the autumn. Parking is very limited though.

Hi John, yes the michaelmas daisies certainly do attract the bees and butterflies and I wouldn't be without them. Now I'll have to get some shorter asters as well!
Thanks for the info Owdboggy. I missed the name of the garden and didn't know where it was so you've saved me a search.

The other place to see Asters is Upton House which is a NT property in the Stratford on Avon area. They have a lot of A amellus forms. Sadly they are too tender for us here.
There is a Nursery called Avondale near Coventry with a good collection too.
http://www.avondalenursery.co.uk/index.php

Thanks again Owdboggy. I have grandchildren in Stratford and in Leamington Spa so I will endeavour to go to both gardens when I visit them! I imagine the A amellus would survive here in the soft south of Sussex if they are ok in Warwickshire!

Actually, Michaelmas Daisies are hybrids of Aster nova-angliae and A. nova-belgii. A. amellus is Italian Aster.

I get into trouble for correcting people so I left the original slight error unharmed.

Oops! I probably should have done the same...but I'm just too O.C.D.! :)
Apologies if anyone was offended! :/

I'm sure no one was offended, Tug. After all, we are all here to learn from each other I thought!

and when they keep renaming plants according to current DNA analysis.............

Oohh, yes, Sbg! I'm beginning to wonder whether I should even have bothered to take plant taxonomy in college.