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False aster

Boltonia asteroides

Common names:
false aster, boltonia, false chamomile, white boltonia, white doll's daisy

Content Detail

False aster produces large numbers of daisy-like white to pale lavender flowers late in the summer. The attractive foliage is blue-green. Easily grown in full sun and moist soils, false aster can tolerate a variety of conditions. Useful in naturalized areas or the back of perennial beds.

  • Family (English) Aster
  • Family (botanic) Asteraceae
  • Tree or plant type Perennial
  • Native locale North America
  • Size range Large plant (more than 24 inches)
  • Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
  • Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
  • Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
  • Tolerances clay soil, Dry sites, Occasional drought
  • Season of interest late summer, early fall
  • Flower color and fragrance Purple, White
  • Shape or form Open
  • Growth rate Fast
  • Transplants well Yes
  • Wildlife Butterflies, Insect pollinators
  • Has cultivars Yes

Size:

False aster is a large, lanky plant reaching 5 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide.

Native geographic location and habitat:

It is native in the eastern United States.

Pollinators and wildlife:

Attracts butterflies and other pollinators.

Leaf description:

Alternate, blue-green, lance-shaped leaves attach directly to the stalks. The leaves can be up to 5 inches long.

Flower description:

An impressive display of one-inch, daisy-like, white to sometimes lavender flowers are borne on long flower stalks (panicles).

Fruit description:

Fruit is a small, dry pod with a single seed inside (achene).

 

Plant care:

Best grown in full sun and average soil, the plant may require staking in less sun and moist soil. Pinch back or prune by one-third in early summer for a bushier, more compact plant. Easy to grow, you can divide in the spring every three to four years. It can also be grown by seed. May require staking in moist soil or part shade.

List or pests, diseases and tolerances:

Deer and rabbit resistant. Tolerates most soils and conditions.

Doll’s Daisy (Boltonia asteroides ‘Nana’):

A dwarf false aster with pale lavender flowers, this cultivar reaches only 18 to 24 inches tall and wide.

Snowbank Boltonia (Boltonia asteroides ‘Snowbank’): A compact version of the species, Snowbank is an heirloom plant that grows to 3 to 4 feet tall and typically requires less staking.

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