(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...

(Aromatic Aster)

Noted for its compact, spreading habit, 'October Skies' is a wonderfully landscape-friendly aromatic aster that's as tough as it is pretty. Its many lavender-blue daisies have dusty yellow centers and fine petals. Their cool color contrasts beautifully with yellow-flowered fall composites. Flowering typically begins in mid-fall and continues for up to three or four weeks.

This North American native is among the best perennials for providing bold masses of late-season color. Clouds of violet...

(Aromatic Aster)

Clouds of lavender-blue flowers cover this bushy, relatively compact aromatic aster from early to mid-autumn. This favorite cultivar was bred at Holbrook Farm Nursery, in Fletcher, North Carolina; an establishment that has since closed.

This North American native aster is among the best perennials for providing bold masses of late-season color. Lots of cool 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...

(Tatarian Aster)

The tall, loose floral clusters of this hardy perennial aster are bold and striking.

Tatarian aster is a showy late season bloomer that originates from Siberia, so it is particularly cold hardy. The upright, clump-forming plant has rounded dark green leaves that are remarkably fragrant when crushed. In late summer to fall it produces upright, leafy stems from which rise broad, loose, terminal clusters of blue daisies. Each flower has violet or purple rays and a yellow center. These are irresistible...

(Amerika Astilbe, Astilbe, False Spirea)

Mid-sized and free-flowering, astilbe ‘Amerika’ is an herbaceous perennial grown for its tolerance of shade, dependable bloom, plush spikes of flowers, and dark, dense ferny foliage. The spikes grow at the top of slender upright stems and have a branching habit that looks a bit like a Christmas tree. Tiny, closely packed, coral-pink flowers clothe the spikes, transforming them into soft, billowing plumes that wave in the breeze. One plant may produce several stems, making a cloud of bloom high above...

(Amethyst False Spirea, Astilbe, False Spirea)

Amethyst astilbe is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with summertime plume flowers. It is a relatively tall hybrid cultivar with green leaves and a tall inflorescence of lilac-pink flowers which bloom in midsummer.

Amethyst false spirea requires full sun to partial shade and must be grown in moist, well-drained soils and perform best in shady locations. The flowerheads fade to attractive shades of brown in the fall, providing landscape interest through winter. They function best in shade...

(Astilbe, Avalanche 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 'Avalanche' produces large long blooming plumes of white from early to late summer. Dried flower-heads retain garden interest through winter.

Plants prefer a partial shade location in moist, fertile, well-drained soil. This hybrid however, will tolerate dryer and sunnier locales. Plant in groups in shady, light...

(Astilbe, ColorFlash™ False Spirea, False Spirea)

There’s no need to wait for ColorFlash™ to bloom because this fabulous cultivar offers vivid foliage all season long. Hybridized in Europe and introduced by Anthony Tesselaar International, ColorFlash™ false spirea is a regal choice for partially shady sites. While other hybrids offer only variation in flower color, this outstanding performer has leaves in brilliant hues of crisp green, purple-red and burgundy. In fall they turn the vivid sunset shades of gold, orange and red.

This herbaceous...

(Astilbe, ColorFlash™ False Spirea, False Spirea)

Brighten up any dull shade garden with the season-long vivid lime green foliage color of ColorFlash™ Lime false spirea. Hybridized in Europe and introduced by Anthony Tesselaar International, this reliable perennial is unique because it offers a double whammy of colorful foliage and flowers.

In late spring through early summer plants put forth tall, upright plumes of fluffy pink flowers. Happy specimens may produce five to nine stalks per plant when only a year old. Like many hybrid Astilbe,...

(Bonn False Spirea, Hybrid Japanese Astilbe, Japanese False Spirea)

Hybrid Japanese astilbes are striking herbaceous perennials for shade. In the spring, plants put forth clumps of feathery compound leaves of dark green. By early to midsummer beautiful, tall, feathery plumes appear. The cultivar 'Bonn' is a vigorous selection that produces dense rose-pink plumes. Flowers turn brown after blooming, so it looks best to cut them back once they are spent.

Most astilbes prefer partial shade and fertile soil with average drainage but can tolerate sunnier sites if well...