Re: What's blooming now-Boltonia
- Subject: Re: What's blooming now-Boltonia
- From: E*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 00:22:05 EDT
In a message dated 8/6/02 7:02:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
genebush@otherside.com writes:
<< Boltonia I do not have because I do not especially care for the
daisy-shaped blooms. Perhaps I am missing out on something and should give
it a try. Any comments on Boltonia from anyone who has had it in the garden
for some time? >>
Gene,
Boltonia is a very tall plant and blooms exactly at the same time as the
aster 'Alma Potschke' so they are often paired. The aster related to the
native plant is always bare half way up the stems so only looks good on the
top half requiring a third plant to make it all look good. We put artemesia
'Powis Castle' around it all.
The Boltonia is a drawing card for Monarch butterflies and is always covered
with the Monarchs. It is tall, bluish foliage and here, blooms late, in the
middle of September. Boltonia is hardy, reliable bloomer and I think
another native plant. It needs, again, lots of water while budding to really
look good. A well grown stand is a cloud of white so you often do not notice
the daisy form. Late blooming plants are valued here especially if they will
take a bit of cold weather as this will do. In short, if well grown (water
while budding) it is a very fine fall plant.
It is probably not a plant for a designed or formal garden, the right
location in your gardens would make all the difference between great and
weedy. There is a shorter pink form but it is another plant, not as
floriferous and not really very pink.
I have had Boltonia for years and would say it needs dividing and replanting
as often as you can get to it. If you had a fall border or section Boltonia,
some asters, tall sedums and grasses could be very nice with a designer's
touch. You could add the fall Rudbeckias if you like yellows in a group.
There could be a border of giant plants as you could also add the white form
of Joe Pye Weed and the Tatarian aster plus all kinds of Artemesias. Just a
plan in my head for a day when I do over some section.
This would look good with big rocks or high winding paths.
Now if I had a staff of three or four and a week of good weather.
Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
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