(New York Aster)

This New York aster cultivar was discovered in the garden of Jerry Cobb Colley and named for his hometown of Farmington, Kentucky. Its double, soft lilac blossoms resemble fluffy powderpuffs, and bloom profusely in late summer to fall atop compact, well-branched plants. The flowers are complemented by bright green, lance-shaped foliage, and are highly attractive to bees, butterflies and other small, pollinating insects. The seeds that follow provide a source of food for seed-eating birds such...

(Aromatic Aster)

This North American native is among the best perennials for providing bold masses of late-season color. Clouds of violet or purple daisies with fine petals and yellow centers appear in late summer and fall on stout, many-branched stems. A single plant can have a dozen or more flower stems. The blooms are irresistible to butterflies as well as other beneficial insects that flock to this late-season nectar source. The foliage is remarkably fragrant when crushed, hence its common name.

Full sun...

(Late Purple Aster)

Late season asters like Aster patens brighten the fall landscape with their colorful blooms. The tall, arching stems of this hardy perennial become lined with pale lavender-purple daisies with yellow centers. Wild populations exist in open woodlands and thickets throughout the whole of the eastern United States. Though rarely cultivated, this is a pretty native aster for wildflower and butterfly gardens.

The fine stems of late purple aster are lined with slender, lance-shaped, alternate...

(Willowleaf Aster)

In mid to late fall, willowleaf aster produces tall, billowy branches covered with small blueish white daisies. Natural populations of this hardy herbaceous perennial exist throughout much of central and eastern North America and favor moist meadows, roadside ditches, stream edges and other lowlands.

Dense linear or lance-shaped green leaves cover the upright, branched stems. Fine, whitish veins mark the undersides of the leaves. Late in the season, the branches produce pyramidal clusters...

(Astilbe, Bridal Veil Astilbe)

The beautiful white plumes of 'Bridal Veil' will light up the late spring garden. Asian in origin, this moderately tall clump-forming hybrid perennial is a popular plant for shaded borders.

In spring neat clumps of crisp green compound leaves appear. In late spring to midsummer they give rise to feathery plumes of clean white flowers. These are great for cutting and attract to bees and even butterflies.

False spirea will tolerate full sun to partial shade and must be grown in evenly moist,...

(Astilbe, Cattleya False Spirea, False Spirea)

Astilbe is a stunning herbaceous perennial with fuzzy plumes that appear in summer on slender stems, following the emergence of frondlike leaves that unfurl in spring. The cultivar 'Cattleya' produces large, plumes of rose-pink in midsummer and likely again in early fall. Dried flower-heads retain garden interest through winter.

Astilbes prefer a partial shade location and fertile, well-drained soil. If the chosen garden area's soil is dry, reloacte to more shade. Plant in groups in shady,...

(Astilbe, Country and Western False Spirea, False Spirea)

This astilbe, ‘Country and Western,’ is an herbaceous perennial grown for its feathery flowers that rise on thin stems from lush ferny foliage. The flower spikes that top the stems have a branching habit a bit like a Christmas tree, and are clothed by tiny, closely packed flowers that transform them into soft plumes. A member of the Music Series, ‘Country and Western' blooms with bright pink flowers in mid through late summer. Deadhead the plant after the first flush of flowers; you may be rewarded...

(Astilbe, Drum and Bass Astilbe, False Spirea)

The free-flowering ‘Drum and Bass’ is a vigorous, compact hybrid Astilbe that produces big bright purple-red floral plumes in early to midsummer. This exceptional cultivar was bred in The Netherlands by Harry Verduin. Its ferny green leaves remain attractive through summer, and the spent blooms turn to brown when they set fruit. If left uncut, they will remain architectural and attractive through winter.

This easy to grow plant prefers partial shade and fertile, moist soil. If well-irrigated...

(Astilbe, False Spirea, Granat False Spirea)

Astilbe is a stunning herbaceous perennial with fuzzy plumes that appear in summer on slender stems, following the emergence of frondlike leaves that unfurl in spring. 'Granat' produces tall, rich carmine-red plumes in midsummer. Dried flower-heads retain garden interest through winter. Plants prefer a partial shade location and fertile, well-drained soil. Plant in groups in shady, light woodland borders in combination with blue leaf hostas and assorted ferns or use as edging.

(Astilbe, False Spirea, Rhythm and Beat False Spirea)

This astilbe, ‘Rhythm and Beat,’ is a stunning herbaceous perennial grown for its feathery plumes that rise on thin stems from lush ferny foliage. The flower spikes that top the stems have a branching habit and tiny, closely packed flowers that clothe the spikes, transforming them into soft plumes. A member of the Music Series, 'Rhythm and Beat' blooms with magenta flowers in mid through late summer. Deadhead the plant after the first flush of flowers; you may be rewarded with a second bloom in the...