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Herbaceous Perennial Flower,
Wildflower
Boltonia asteroides
Asteraceae Family
This tall (up to 6 feet) easy-to-grow, native North American wildflower bears countless starry, daisy-like white, pink or purple blooms with yellow centers in late summer and early fall. Tolerates dry soil, heat and humidity, is deer-resistant, and makes a nice background for informal perennial or wildflower gardens.
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Site Characteristics
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Sunlight:
‘Snowbank’ may require staking when grown in shade.
Soil conditions:
- tolerates droughty soil
- requires well-drained soil
- requires damp soil
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Tolerates poor drainage
Prefers rich, moist but well-drained soils. Established plants tolerate drought.
Hardiness zones:
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Plant Traits
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Lifecycle:
perennial
Ease-of-care:
easy
Height:
3 to 6 feet
Spread:
2 to 4 feet
Bloom time:
- late summer
- early fall
- mid-fall
Flower color:
Daisy-like, white, pink or purple with yellow centers.
Foliage color:
Bluish- to grayish-green.
Foliage texture:
medium
Shape:
upright
Shape in flower:
flower stalks with flowers with petal radiating outward
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Special Considerations
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Special characteristics:
- deer resistant
- non-aggressive
- May spread quickly in moist, sandy soil or clay soil, but is not overly aggressive.
- non-invasive
- native to North America
- Eastern and central U.S.
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Growing Information
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How to plant:
Propagate by
seed,
division or separation
- Divide in spring or fall every 2 to 4 years to maintain vigor and control spread. Sow seed in cold frame in fall. Germinates readily. Seeds from 'Snowbank' do not breed true.
Maintenance and care:
Plants grown in part shade or rich soil or exposed to wind will likely need staking.To control height and reduce the need for staking with no delay of blooming, cut plants back by a half to two thirds in early summer. Or cut plants back by a third in midsummer, which also limits height but delays blooming. If plants are sturdy, they can be left overwinter and cut back in spring. But if they are floppy, cut them back to the ground. Divide every 4 to 5 years to control spread.
More growing information: How to Grow Perennials
Diseases:
Anthracnose
Rust
Powdery mildew
Fungal leaf spot
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Varieties
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var. latisquama (B. latisquama) bear white or lavender-purple blooms with yellow centers. ‘Snowbank’ is by far the most popular cultivar of this species. Bears pure white blooms with yellow centers, grows just 3 to 4 feet tall, and does not require staking. ‘Pink Beauty’ bears pale pink flowers with yellow centers. In good soil, it can grow 5 feet tall and may require staking. In poor soils it remains compact (3 to 4 feet).
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