Sericocoarpus linariifolius (Conyza linifolia) - NARROW LEAF WHITE TOPPED ASTER
Underused to unknown in horticulture, partially due to it's difficult scientific and also common name.
Well, we just call it "Aster linariifolius".
This plant will most likely never make it to mainstream, but we still love it and we think it deserves it's place in our dry flower beds, and gardens, not only because of the threat of climate change droughts.
We have this one in a garden for years and we confirm it is tough, drought, heat and humidity tolerant plant, that can handle black walnuts and half shade too.
Doesn't seed around and reliably comes back - it requires only somewhat drained to dry soils.
Delicate looking leaves and flowers.
Blooming Time: June/July to July/August (depending on your zone and soils), flowers for about 3 weeks
Size: about 18" tall x 12" wide
USDA Zones: 5/6 to 9 (the hardiness is mentioned zone 6, but we find this plant very tough and hardy, especially on drained soil)
Culture: sun to partial sun to dry half shade (plants look more bulky in full sun), drained/drier soils, preferably gritty rocky or sandy, shallow soils, or average soils that tend to dry out fast (slopes, dry edges). Should tolerate dry clay.
Moisture Needs: dry, medium-dry
Origin: native to eastern part of USA, see the BONAP distribution map. Grows naturally in dry woodlands, dry forest openings, rocky, gravelly slopes, dry pinewood forests
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: not verified, but our plants in the garden were never bothered by either
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: yes/yes, but not much is known about those relationships
Attracts Hummingbirds: no
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 4" perennial pot (1.22 pt/580 ml)
Pictures copyright: US Perennials
Plant combinations: Good perennial combinations will be with smaller native perennials or nativars of Allium cernuum, Arenaria stricta, Armeria maritima, Artemisia frigida, Asclepias tuberosa, Blephillia ciliata, Dalea, shorter selections of Echinacea, Erigeron pulchellus, Euphorbia corollata, Coreopsis verticillata, Coreopsis verticillata, Monarda bradburiana, Monarda punctata, Oenothera missouriensis, O. perennis, O. fruticosa, Penstemon hirsutus or other Penstemon species, Phlox subulata, Phlox bifida, Phlox douglasii, Sisyrinchium and other shorter, drought tolerant perennials. From grasses choose Boutelloa gracilis, Koleria cristata, Muhlenbergia, smaller cultivars of Sporobolus, or non native Seslerias. Great non-native companions can be smaller Peonia, smaller Eryngium, shorter bearded Iris, Lavandula, small Nepeta, Satureja, Thymus and many more drought tolerant plants.
Sericocoarpus linariifolius (Conyza linifolia) - NARROW LEAF WHITE TOPPED ASTER
Underused to unknown in horticulture, partially due to it's difficult scientific and also common name.
Well, we just call it "Aster linariifolius".
This plant will most likely never make it to mainstream, but we still love it and we think it deserves it's place in our dry flower beds, and gardens, not only because of the threat of climate change droughts.
We have this one in a garden for years and we confirm it is tough, drought, heat and humidity tolerant plant, that can handle black walnuts and half shade too.
Doesn't seed around and reliably comes back - it requires only somewhat drained to dry soils.
Delicate looking leaves and flowers.
Blooming Time: June/July to July/August (depending on your zone and soils), flowers for about 3 weeks
Size: about 18" tall x 12" wide
USDA Zones: 5/6 to 9 (the hardiness is mentioned zone 6, but we find this plant very tough and hardy, especially on drained soil)
Culture: sun to partial sun to dry half shade (plants look more bulky in full sun), drained/drier soils, preferably gritty rocky or sandy, shallow soils, or average soils that tend to dry out fast (slopes, dry edges). Should tolerate dry clay.
Moisture Needs: dry, medium-dry
Origin: native to eastern part of USA, see the BONAP distribution map. Grows naturally in dry woodlands, dry forest openings, rocky, gravelly slopes, dry pinewood forests
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: not verified, but our plants in the garden were never bothered by either
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: yes/yes, but not much is known about those relationships
Attracts Hummingbirds: no
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 4" perennial pot (1.22 pt/580 ml)
Pictures copyright: US Perennials
Plant combinations: Good perennial combinations will be with smaller native perennials or nativars of Allium cernuum, Arenaria stricta, Armeria maritima, Artemisia frigida, Asclepias tuberosa, Blephillia ciliata, Dalea, shorter selections of Echinacea, Erigeron pulchellus, Euphorbia corollata, Coreopsis verticillata, Coreopsis verticillata, Monarda bradburiana, Monarda punctata, Oenothera missouriensis, O. perennis, O. fruticosa, Penstemon hirsutus or other Penstemon species, Phlox subulata, Phlox bifida, Phlox douglasii, Sisyrinchium and other shorter, drought tolerant perennials. From grasses choose Boutelloa gracilis, Koleria cristata, Muhlenbergia, smaller cultivars of Sporobolus, or non native Seslerias. Great non-native companions can be smaller Peonia, smaller Eryngium, shorter bearded Iris, Lavandula, small Nepeta, Satureja, Thymus and many more drought tolerant plants.