Sun Perennials A-i

Aster oblongifolius 'Raydon's Favorite'

Height: 24 inches

Spread: 24 inches

Sunlight: full sun partial shade

Hardiness Zone: 4a

Other Names: Michaelmas Daisy

Description:
This vigorous native selection forms a nice clump, smothered with beautiful, daisy-like, violet-blue flowers with yellow centers in fall; puts on an amazing show even on hot, dry sites; needs sun and good drainage for best flowering

Ornamental Features:

Raydon's Favorite Aster has masses of beautiful violet daisy flowers with blue overtones and yellow eyes at the ends of the stems from early to late fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes:

Raydon's Favorite Aster is a dense herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration: Disease

Raydon's Favorite Aster is recommended for the following landscape applications:

- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
- Groundcover
- Container Planting

Planting & Growing:
Raydon's Favorite Aster will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Raydon's Favorite Aster is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

Aster divaricatus 'Eastern Star'

Small, white flowers appear in clusters on dark, burgundy stems. USDA 3-8

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Violet or lavender-pink blooms provide nectar for pollinators. USDA 4-8

Aster 'Wood's Blue'

Height: 12 inches

Spread: 18 inches

Sunlight: full sun, partial shade

Hardiness Zone: 3a

Other Names: Michaelmas Daisy

Description:
Mounds of narrow, dark green foliage are covered with sky-blue daisy-like flowers, adding a pop of color to autumn days; dwarf compact habit, ideal for patio containers, borders or garden beds; beautiful added to fresh cut arrangements; low maintenance

Ornamental Features:
Woods Blue Aster has masses of beautiful sky blue daisy flowers with yellow eyes at the ends of the stems from early to late fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes:
Woods Blue Aster is a dense herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

-Disease

Woods Blue Aster is recommended for the following landscape applications:

- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
- Container Planting
- Planting & Growing

Woods Blue Aster will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Woods Blue Aster is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

Aster dumosus 'Wood's Purple'

Famed for its resistance to disease, 'Wood's Purple' is a compact aster with bluish-purple flowers that sport cheerful yellow centers. Deep green foliage stays healthy and lush throughout the season on this hardy and long-lasting plant. Daisy-shaped blooms provide important late-season food for many pollinators, including migrating monarch butterflies

Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome'

This compact, densely branched perennial is perfect for today's gardener. Requiring little work or care, it resists disease and adapts to a wide range of growing conditions. 'Purple Dome' makes an excellent companion for spring and early summer flowering perennials. Its individual flowers feature royal purple rings of petals and bright yellow centers that are certain to catch the eye of pollinators in search of late season nectar.

Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies'

Height: 24 inches

Spread: 24 inches

Sunlight: full sun partial shade

Hardiness Zone: 4a

Other Names: Michaelmas Daisy

Description:
A mounded, bushy variety, perfect for adding color to fall gardens; beautiful sky blue daisy-like flowers with yellow centers are featured on green, fragrant foliage; easy to grow, requiring little to no maintenance; drought tolerant once established

Ornamental Features:

October Skies Aster has masses of beautiful sky blue daisy flowers with yellow eyes at the ends of the stems from early to late fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes:

October Skies Aster is a dense herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration: Disease


October Skies Aster is recommended for the following landscape applications:

- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
- Container Planting

Planting & Growing:
October Skies Aster will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

October Skies Aster is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

Iris sibirica 'Caesar's Brother'

Purple flowers bloom above the narrow green leaves. Naturalizing. USDA 3-8

Achillea millefolium 'Paprika'

Cherry-red, gold centered flowers, later fading to light pink and creamy yellow. Spreading fern-like foliage. USDA 3-8

Achillea millefolium 'Strawberry Seduction'

Rich strawberry red flowers with a yellow eye atop feathered foliage with a robust compact habit. USDA 3-8

Achillea millefolium 'Moonshine'

Clumping, compact hybrid with fern-like, aromatic, silvery foliage. Long-lasting, bright lemon-yellow flowers. USDA 3-8

Achillea millefolium 'Pink Grapefruit'

Clustered rose pink flowers that age to a soft creamy pink. Prefers well-drained soils. USDA 3-8

Iberis sempervirens 'Alexander's White'

White flowers & dark semi-evergreen leaves offer dense contrasting color. USDA 3-8