Growing Conditions

New England Asters are long-living perennials native to most states in the USA, except the arid and tropical areas. They are important nectar plants for monarchs migrating back to Mexico. They prefer a sunny spot and are adaptable to most soils; they are...

One of the best performing asters in the 2003-2009 Chicago Botanic Garden trials! Bright deep pink flowers, good flower coverage, manageable size, usually without flopping and opening. Excellent resistance to leaf spots (better than some new cultivars)...

'Billowing Pink' = new selection of Aromatic Aster - very vigorous, dense, with high percentage flower coverage and very late blooming! Bubble gum pink flowers 1½" in diameter. Healthy foliage - mildew free! This plants needs space, and in 3 years...

Aromatic aster 'October Skies' is a superb nativar and one of our all-time favorite perennials, because it:    1) grows in dense ground-covering mounds that are completely covered with smaller blue flowers in the fall   2) has a very...

Aromatic aster 'Raydon's Favorite' is another superb cultivar of aromatic aster, in comparison with great 'October Skies', this one is a bit later blooming and a bit more robust. Excellent garden performer and highly attractive to many butterflies, all...

One of the breakthroughs in aster breeding : 'Thunderdome' combines deep purple flowers of New England Aster and bushy mounding habit and aromatic leaves of Aromatic Aster. Both parents are very tough and superior native asters, excellent plants for...

Adaptable native wildflower, important late source of nectar and pollen for native bees, various butterflies including Monarch butterflies and other insects. Seeds feed the birds. 3' tall x 1' wide upright and a bit leggy looking plants. Violet-blue...

Originally named Aster ptarmicoides, this plant was re-named to Solidago ptarmicoides in 1981 as a result of research by two botanists, Brouillet and Semple, who realized that this plant belongs to the goldenrod family. For more confusion, another...

Very late blooming Aster, usually the latest one. 1" lavender blue flowers in clusters, large coarse leaves with a reddish fall color. Vigorous, very drought tolerant, but can also become a thuggish plant. It spreads wide via rhizomes, so it is...

This is an early flowering aster that blooms in umbels of smaller, cream-white flowers with yellow centers. It starts flowering much earlier than other asters, and continues until September. It attracts a wide range of native pollinators. It's...

Upright native aster with late blooming, small light yellow flowers age to reddish-purple. Pollinator magnet, adatable to various soil and light conditions. Blooming Time: August - September/OctoberSize: around 3' high x 1-1.5' wideUSDA Zones: 3 to...

Bold structural native Astilbe for half shade or shade garden. One of the two only North American Astilbes. Reminicent of Aruncus dioicus (Goat's Beard), but the terminal leaflet is lobbed, which is the key diagnostic feature. Compound leaves turn yellow...

Later blooming Astilbe (August), more tolerant to sun and drought than other cultivars. 24-36" tall x 18-24" wide clumps of dissected leaves, panicles of reddish-purple flowers. Spent flowers persist on the plants into winter and make nice winter...

Dark reddish buds open to red-pink flowers, darker stems, bronze-green foliage. Compact variety. Blooming Time : June/July - July  (up to August in cooler areas). This species of Astilbe blooms later than others.Size: 15" tall and wide USDA...

This clump forming, adaptable perennial from the legume family has an ornamental leaf texture and creamy yellow/green-white flowers.  It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and other small birds. Unfortunately, it is palatable to mammals, so it can...

Large sport of Japanese Painted Fern, reaching 3' of height and 4' of width (up to 6'). Discovered in Plant Delights Nursery (NC) in the 90's. Fronds (leaves) have darker wine-red stems and silvery-green leaves. Slowly spreads into wide clumps. Best in...

One of the best compact and floriferous cultivars of Baptisia. One of the winners of Baptisia trials at Mt. Cuba center. 3' tall x 2.5-3' wide clumps (a bit more wide in the middle of the season, but still dense). Sun to half shade (at least 4-6 hours),...

Breakthrough in baptisia breeding = golden-yellow foliage combined with indigo blue flowers! Focal point or background for other plants. Like any other baptisia, this is trouble free plant, long-lived and tough plant with no pests or diseases. Blooming...