Boltonia asteroidesBoltonia
Family:Asteraceae
common name:Boltonia
introduce:Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Missouri Native: Yes
Native Range: Eastern United States
Height: 5 to 6 feet
Spread: 2 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: August - September
Bloom Color: White, pink, lilac, purple with yellow centers.
Sun: Full sun (only)
Water: Medium moisture
Maintenance: Medium
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soils including moderately dry ones. Plants grown in part shade or in rich, moist soils tend to flop and need support. Plants grown in drier soils will grow shorter, but often less vigorously with inferior flowering. If support becomes an issue, plant stems may be pinched or cut back by 1/3, in somewhat the same way as with many asters, in late spring to early summer to reduce plant height and minimize support needs. Slowly spreads by creeping rhizomes. Easily grown from seed.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Boltonia (also commonly called false aster) is a tall, rhizomatous perennial which is native to the eastern U.S. and typically occurs in wet prairies, wet meadows, marshes, stream banks and pond peripheries. Linear, lance-shaped, grayish-green leaves (to 5" long) on erect, usually branching stems growing to 6 tall. Tiny, white, 3/4" daisies (white rays with yellow center disks) in loose panicles literally cover this aster-like plant with a profuse bloom from late summer to early autumn.
No serious insect or disease problems. Taller plants may need support. Susceptible to powdery mildew.
Uses:
Naturalized areas, cottage gardens or native plant gardens. May be used in border backgrounds, however species plants are somewhat weedy and several varieties and cultivars might be better border selections -- see e.g., B. a. var. latisquama Snowbank (H440).
