(China Aster)

The Nevita Series of China aster includes a collection of bushy but nicely branching annuals, all native to China. Green foliage is accented by a range of colorful blooms that are golf ball-sized and pompon-shaped, flowering earlier in summer than others, in either white, blue-violet or rose-pink. Blossoms are held on knee-high mounding plants.

China aster can be planted in loam or sandy soil in well drained conditions and full sun. Do not bother to deadhead spent blossoms as it will not reflower....

(China Aster, Pot 'n Patio China Aster)

The Pot ‘N Patio Series are selections of China Aster bred for compactness, double flowers, and a range of colors. The parent species, native to China, is a bushy, green-leaved annual. These selections are dense, small, fast-growing, bushy, annuals that send up short stalks above the leaves bearing large, double flowers (extra petals) that are round and domed, in colors ranging from white through pink to pinkish-red and purple. Flowering continues from mid-summer through fall, Deadheading encourages...

(China Aster, Standy Aster)

Lovers of cutflowers take note! The more disesae-resistant Standy Series of China aster includes a collection of upright annuals, all native to China with double (extra petal) blossoms with a yellow and white core. This series was developed by the German plant breeding company, Ernst Benary. Green foliage is accented by a range of colorful blooms, flowering in midsummer to fall, in either rose, light pink, red, magenta, ivory or different shades of blue-purple petals. The flattened, mum-like flowers...

(China Aster, Starlight Aster)

Cute and crowned with blooms in early autumn, the Starlight of China aster includes a collection of low, globular mounding annuals, all native to China. This series was developed by the German plant breeding company, Ernst Benary. Green foliage is accented by a range of colorful blooms, flowering in very late summer to fall, in either magenta, salmon, violet or lavender tones. The large sea urchin-like flowers with golden centers are held on ankle-high mounding plants.

China aster can be planted...

(China Aster)

Cute and crowned with blooms in early autumn, the Stella Series of China aster includes a collection of low, globular mounding annuals, all native to China. This series was developed by the German plant breeding company, Ernst Benary. Green foliage is accented by a range of colorful blooms, flowering in very late summer to fall, in either magenta, salmon, violet or lavender tones. The large sea urchin-like flowers with golden centers are held on ankle-high mounding plants.

China aster can be planted...

(Incense Cedar)

The leaves of this beautiful, upright conifer are so fragrant when crushed it is known as the incense cedar. The species is native to mountain ranges from central Oregon to Baja California where winters are wet and summers dry. However, the species is adapted to sites from sea level to high desert so long as ample winter moisture is available. This round-topped tree features layers of flat branchlets with scale-like leaves that are dense and attractive year around. The bark is rough, dark brown...

(Cowslip, Golden Marsh Marigold, Kingcup)

Brightening the streambanks or bogs in midspring with showy yellow buttercup flowers, marsh marigold is a lovely woodland wildflower. A deciduous, mounding aquatic perennial, it is native to the northern half of North America from Alaska to Newfoundland south to Iowa and North Carolina.

The thick, spreading, hollow stems carry lush green heart-shaped leaves with dull jagged teeth. In mid- to late spring, the branching stems bear small loose clusters of bright yellow flowers that are waxy. Shaped...

(Sweetshrub)

White, magnolia-like blossoms with yellow and violet make Venus sweetshrub a lovely plant for the mixed border. A spreading shrub that is deciduous, this hybrid was first grown from seed at North Carolina State University research facility in Fletcher in 2001, the result of complex crosses of three species of sweetshrubs.

The leaves are oblong ovals, glossy deep green in color. In late spring to midsummer, depending on warmth of the climate, small, plump, light green flower buds arise and open...

(Chinese Sweetshrub)

Lustrous, glossy green leaves and white blossoms with flecks of maroon make Chinese sweetshrub a lovely plant for the mixed border. A spreading shrub that is deciduous, it is native to moist mountain streambanks in eastern China. The leaves are oblong ovals, glossy mid- to dark green in color and with irregular edges. In spring or summer, depending on warmth of the climate, small, plump, wide strap-like petaled flowers arise from stem tips. They are white to palest pink in color, with inner petals...

(Sweetshrub)

Fragrant with scents of fruit and spice, the unusual flowers of Carolina allspice make this shrub an unusual specimen for the garden. A rounded and spreading deciduous shrub, it is native to the extreme southeastern United States, from Virginia to Florida.

Its leaves are oval with a gracefully and elegantly pointed tip, and satiny-green to dark-green with a lighter gray-green underside. As the leaves begin to emerge in spring, the flowers appear on short stems. They open a rich, deep brownish-red...