UNL Herbaceous Plants: Autumn Leaves

Common Monkshood

Aconitum napellus

Ranunculaceae

Form: Clumps of basal foliage early in spring; plant rapidly becomes an erect, dense column to a height of 48 to 60 inches and spread of 18 to 24 inches

Foliage: Alternate, beautiful glossy dark green, deeply divided to the base and further divided into segments, 3 to 5 inches wide; medium texture. Foliage emerges early in spring, a welcome green mound.

Flowers: Hooded pouches or helmets, somber dark navy blue, in terminal spikes or racemes. Individual flowers may be up to 2 inches long; September to October

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Part shade; well-drained,evenly moist loamy soils or soils enriched with organic matter. Will not tolerate hot and windy conditions. Stems are very strong and staking is rarely needed. Clumps increase slowly and rarely need dividing unless more plants are desired

Uses: Very late bloom in fall garden, backdrop, cut flowers, foliage.

Companions: boltonia, asters, ornamental grasses

Propagation: Division

Comments: All parts of the plant are poisonous

Cultivars: ‘Newry Blue’ - is a distinct, royal blue.

Other Species: A. carmichaelii, A. x bicolor, A. noveboracense

Mouse Garlic/Summer Beauty Allium

Allium angulosum `Summer Beauty’

Alliaceae

Form: Strong upright clumps to a height of 18 inches and spread of 18 to 24 inches

Foilage: Bright green, ¼ inch flattened blades with rounded tips; evergreen or semi-evergreen in zone 6; very early to emerge in spring; medium-fine texture

Flowers: Straight species has round globes (umbels) consisting of tightly arranged hermaphrodite flowers (male and female parts in a single flower); pale pink to lavender; up to 2 inches across on unbranched stems; June to August. `Summer Beauty’ is sterile, and long-lasting

Seedheads: Tan, persistent into early winter

Culture: Full sun to very light shade; well-drained soil on the dry side. Clumps increase slowly and rarely need dividing. Alliums are poisonous to dogs and cats

Uses: Edger, attract pollinators, cut flowers, grasslike texture.

Companions: Sedums, agastache, lambs ears

Propagation: Division

Ornamental Allium

Allium senescens var. glaucum

Alliaceae

Form: Flattened mound that appears twisted; foliage height 6 inches, flowering height to 12 inches; spread 12 inches from bulbous base. The variety is far superior to the straight species; look for the distinct whorled pattern even in young plants

Foliage: Narrow, linear, twisted, grasslike blue-green leaves in whitish basal sheath, dramatic because of uniformity of twisted appearance; customary onion smell when crushed; foliage remains effective during entire growing season; fine texture

Flowers: Globular inflorescence (umbel), 1 inch wide or slightly larger, on leafless stalks; individual flowers small with five tepals above basal foliage; lilac or mauve color, very attractive to bees, July to September

Seedheads: Dried tan calyx filled with black seeds; can be preserved

Culture: Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil. Carefree plant.

Uses: Edger, rock garden, cut flower, butterfly garden.

Companions: coreopsis, penstemon, veronica, snow-in-summer

Propagation: Division or separate bulbs and replant

Cultivars: `Blue Twister’ - is a new selection

Fall-blooming/Japanese Anemone

Anemone x hybrida

Ranunculaceae

Form: Bold rounded, spreading mound from fibrous roots to 30 inch height by 24 inch spread or more; up to 60 inches in bloom

Foliage: Clean, dark green compound leaves with three lobed and toothed leaflets, to 12 inches long; petioles to 24 inches or more; effective all summer

Flowers: Strong scapes tower above foliage in early August to September, holding individual flowers 2 inches across in loose clusters of three to five; five waxy pink or white sepals, (these plants are apetalous); showy yellow stamens

Seedheads: Not effective
Culture: Part shade, average well-drained soil and moisture. They spread rapidly in good soil. Plants will wilt in late-day sun without enough moisture.

Uses: Bold texture and large scale in border; see-through flowers allow foliage to be used in foreground.
Companions: Variegated solomonseal, plumbago, willow or Arkansas amsonia; cranesbills

Propagation: Divide in spring; root cuttings when dormant

Comments: Foliage alone is a reason to plant anemones; no pests, no diseases; excellent garden presence

Cultivars: ‘Honorine Joubert’ - pure white and very late to bloom

‘Whirlwind' - double white

‘Pamina - deep pink double

‘Prinz Heinrich’ - dark pink

Other Species: A. tomentosum, A. japonicum

White Wood Aster

Aster divaricatus

Asteraceae

Form: Strong, uniform basal clump from which the flowering stems arch and trail; overall form is open and casual; foliage height to 18 inches, spread to 36 inches

Foliage: Dark green, coarsely toothed, heart-shaped to lanceolate; leaves to 4 inches long; medium texture unlike other asters

Flowers: Clouds of small ½ inch to ¾ inch wide flowers, white with a faint purple tinge and yellow centers; star-like with less than 10 widely spaced ray flowers; clustered on airy, wiry purple-black stems from leaf axils, like sparks from a magic wand. Long bloom season, often August to October

Culture: Part shade to almost full shade (habit will become more open and flowering will be reduced); well-drained, evenly moist loamy soils and good air circulation. Take advantage of the cascading habit by placing near large-foliaged or sturdy plants. Will wilt in dry, sunny conditions but spreads agreeably in good soil. Widely adaptable and ornamental; should be used more

Uses: Shade garden, woodland garden, a blender to add texture and form contrast; cut flowers.
Companions: hostas, brunnera, bergenia, coralbells, epimedium, variegated Solomonseal, Virginia bluebells (trailing stems will hide summer dormancy of this plant) small ornamental grasses

Propagation: Division or terminal cuttings in spring, seed

Cultivars: ‘Eastern Star’ - more floriferous than the species, with larger flowers

New England Aster

Aster novae-angliae

Asteraceae

Form: Rounded or weakly vase-shaped, depending on cultivar; can flop into a heap if not manage properly; height to 6 feet; spread to 48 inches
Foliage: Roughly and irritatingly hairy, entire leaves with basal lobes clasping the stem (a key identifying characteristic); narrowly lanceolate and up to 5 inches long; medium texture

Flowers: Composite, corymbose clusters of 40-50 ray flowers surrounding a yellow disc; 1 to 2 inches across, species is violet-purple but cultivars range from rose to blue, violet, pink, and white; August to October, depending on cultivar

Seedheads: Tan puffs of late-winter bird seed; not stable

Culture: Full sun to light shade; well-drained soils of average fertility; even moisture is preferred for best performance. Cut back after bloom to discourage enthusiastic seedlings next spring; or if stems are allowed to stand over winter for habitat, cut to ground in early spring. Provide good air circulation to reduce incidence of foliar diseases. Pinch or reduce height by one-third until early summer to encourage development of side branches and reduce tendency to flop; or cage when young. Divide when center of plant begins to die out, discarding old portions. Aster wilt, aster yellows, grasshoppers and rabbits can be problems.

Uses: Specimen, screen, border, butterfly gardens, prairie and wildflower plantings, cut flowers. Tolerates rain garden conditions.

Companions: ornamental grasses, Russian sage, goldenrod, coneflowers, sedum, Shasta daisy, false sunflower, butterflybush, boltonia

Propagation: Spring division or seedling transplants, terminal cuttings. Asters hybridize and self-sow readily

Cultivars: This is a small sampling from the huge numbers of available cultivars and hybrids

`Alma Potschke’ - warm rose, 3 to 4 feet tall but prone to flopping

`Purple Dome’ - deep, vibrant purple, semi-double flowers cover this mounded form 24 inches tall by 36 inches wide; may show significant loss of lower foliage in high humidity but recovers by fall blooming time

`Hella Lacy’ - violet-blue flowers, 4 to 5 feet tall, must be pinched or staked

‘Harrington’s Pink’ - late flowering salmon pink, 3 to 5 feet tall

`September Ruby’ - dark ruby red flowers, must be pinched or staked

Other Spevies: A. nova-belgii - New York aster

Aromatic Aster

Aster oblongifolius

Asteraceae

Form: Broadly upright mounds of foliage without the basal bareness of many taller asters; height and spread 36 inches or slightly more if not pinched

Foliage: Slightly spatulate basal leaves are 3 to 4 inches long and ½ inch wide or less. Stem foliage, which is alternate, is progressively smaller, sessile or clasping. All stems and leaves are covered with sticky hairs, and are aromatic when bruised. Round glands on upper portions of the plant and the bracts of the flower heads can be seen with magnification. Medium texture

Flowers: Purple to purple-blue rays are densely packed around yellow center disks to form flower heads 1 inch across. Flowers on short branches smother the plant from October into November, subtended by small leaflike bracts. The flowers attract all sorts of late-season insects.

Culture: Full sun to very light shade and average, well-drained soils on the sandy side produce the healthiest plants. The plants will tolerate garden loam and heavier soils with good drainage. Pinch or cut back in late spring to encourage more branching and reduce height. Divide in spring to increase numbers and improve air circulation. Flea beetles may occasionally attempt damage; the sticky surface usually dissuades them.

Uses: Butterfly garden, prairie, naturalized areas, backdrop.

Companions: ‘Fireworks’ goldenrod, switchgrass, little bluestem, coneflowers, sedums

Propagation: Division

Cultivars: ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ - an old form, blooming from October into November

‘October Skies’ - a low form, to 18 inches

Dwarf Aster

Aster x dumosus

Asteraceae

Form: Dense, rounded or almost groundcover-like; height to 12 inches and spread to 18 inches. Confused in nomenclature, but most short hybrids are listed under this heading

Foliage: Smaller and more refined than that of A. novae-angliae, very dark green, less than ½ inch wide and 3 inches or less in length; fine texture

Flowers: Similar to A. novae-angliae, with same color mix; but usually held tightly against plant, forming cushions of color

Culture: Similar to A. novae-angliae; not as susceptible to aster wilt or rabbits

Seedheads: Not persistent

Uses: Edger, masses, butterfly garden.

Companions: `Golden Baby’ goldenrod, fringed sage, lambs-ears, sedum, sideoats and blue grama, cranesbills

Propagation: Terminal cuttings, division

Cultivars: `Woods’ Dwarfs’ - smothered with pink, purple or blue flowers on 12 inch plants

‘Snow Cushion’ - late blooming white, into October

‘Professor Kippenburg’ - lavender-blue, semi-double, very sturdy; ground cover tendencies

Boltonia

Boltonia asteroides

Asteraceae

Form: Strongly upright and slightly rounded, forming a dense mass of self-supporting stems to a height of 60 inches and spread of 48 inches
Foliage: Alternate, narrow lanceolate leaves 3 to 5 inches long and less than ½ inch wide; glaucous green-blue, sessile. Rarely bothered by insects or diseases; medium-fine texture

Flowers: Entire plant is smothered with 1 inch white “daisies” with yellow centers in late August or early September, held in loose terminal panicles; overall effect is of a large white hedge

Seedheads: Not persistent, but stems turn light tan and remain until late heavy snows knock them back

Culture: Full sun to very light shade, well-drained soils of average fertility; tolerant of drought conditions and construction sites. Avoid low spots or standing water in winter. Divide clumps of basal rosettes every 3-4 years, discarding dead or woody center of plant or to remove offshoots, which can be numerous in good soil. May occasionally suffer from crown rot or chrysanthemum bud worm

Uses: Background screen or specimen, butterfly gardens, cutting flowers (useful as a filler), scale in large spaces. Tolerates rain garden conditions.

Companions: Fall-blooming asters, butterfly bush, wide-bladed or smaller vase-shaped ornamental grasses; false sunflower, oriental poppy (boltonia will hide the bare space)

Propagation: Division in spring, cuttings

Cultivars: ‘Snowbank’ - even more floriferous than the species

B. asteroides var. latisquama ‘Masbolimket’, Jim Crockett boltonia - Extremely long season of bloom, beginning in June and lasting into September; flowers pale lavender-pink; covering mounded plants to a height and width of eighteen inches

Plumbago/Leadwort

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

Plumbaginaceae

Form: Stoloniferous groundcover, height to 12 inches, spread 24 inches or more; very late to emerge in spring

Foliage: Bright green foliage emerges with bronze or red tinge; leaves entire and spatulate with broadly acute tips and fine sandpaper-like hairs covering all surfaces and margin; 1 to 3 inches long and up to 1 ½ inch wide. Fall color deep bronze red and persistent until after hard freeze

Flowers: Brilliant blue, ½ inch to ¾ inch across in terminal clusters up to 3 inches in diameter;

begin appearing in July and last until nearly frost

Seedheads: Pointed capsules deep red, persistent

Culture: Part sun to sun; loose, average to dry soil; does well in rock walls and edges; not bothered by pests or diseases. Mark location to avoid digging into it in spring. Can be quite aggressive in good soil. Late to emerge in spring.

Uses: Loose groundcover under shrubs or trees, walls and rock gardens.

Companions: Fall-blooming sedums, ‘Husker Red’ penstemon, asters, bergenia

Propagation: Divisions in early spring; cuttings, stratified seed

Turtlehead

Chelone lyonii

Scrophulariaceae

Form: Strong vertical clumps, height to 36 inches, spread 24 inches

Foliage: Deep green, glossy, leathery ovate leaves on long petioles, evenly serrate. Medium texture

Flowers: Terminal spikes of one inch long pink “turtle heads,” yellow beards , with lower lip extended as an insect landing pad; showy against foliage from late August to September. Light green buds are also “turtle heads”

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Prefers consistent moisture in full sun to part shade; excellent along boggy edges. Tolerant of rain garden conditions. Few pests or diseases. Staking is not necessary

Uses: Masses as a foreground, pond edges

Companions: Joe pye weed, boltonia, asters, siberian iris, cranesbills

Propagation: Summer or fall division; seed, cuttings

Other Species: C. glabra, ‘Hot Lips’ - is a deep pink selection of C. lyonii.

Tube Clematis

Clematis heracleifolia

Ranunculaceae

Form: Bold, sprawling subshrub with woody base and weak stems that do not branch, height and spread 36 inches

Foliage: Large, coarse gray-green leaves, compound with three leaflets up to 6” long, margins distinctly toothed. Bold texture

Flowers: One inch long in clusters in leaf axils, bright blue-purple,4 reflexed sepals and very fragrant, smelling like vanilla, August to September

Seedheads: Long silvery achenes in clusters on perfect flowers; effective for several weeks

Culture: Full sun to part shade (becomes floppy and open); average to dry soil; tolerates alkaline conditions and will produce seedlings along the edges of gravel driveways

Uses: Texture contrast against larger shrubs or evergreens, as foreground for grasses.

Companions: feather reedgrasses, tall goldenrods, fall-blooming anemone, butterfly bush, garden phlox

Propagation: Spreads by self-sown seedlings; terminal cuttings in spring and summer; difficult to transplant when large

Cultivars: The variety davidiana is most readily available.

`China Blue’ - cultivar of var. davidiana? With more uniform habit, larger, brighter flowers

Threadleaf Coreopsis

Coreopsis verticillata

Asteraceae

Form: Dense, very fine-textured stoloniferous mound of upright stems that spreads by to a height of 30 inches and a width of 36 inches; stolons form thick mats in fertile soil

Foliage: Opposite, medium green leaves, sessile and palmately segmented into filiform (thread-like) segments up to 2 inches long and less than 1/16 inch wide; very fine texture

Flowers: Butter-yellow, with fewer than 10 notched ray flowers and a center disc, 1 to 1 ½ inch across, surrounded by two sets of bracts (distinct in Coreopsis and Bidens), and loosely arranged in corymbs on short peduncles; bloom time up to ten weeks; June to August

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun to very light shade; well-drained loamy or loose soils of average fertility; tolerant of drought once established. Very slow to emerge in spring (particularly the smaller cultivars); mark location. Shear lightly after initial flowering to encourage rebloom

Uses: Edger, borders, cut flower, texture contrast, blender.

Companions: Russian sage, butterfly milkweed, coneflowers, tall ornamental grasses, catmint

Propagation: Division in spring or fall

Cultivars: `Moonbeam’ - Soft yellow with no orange in it; almost continuous bloom beginning in July and lasting until frost if sheared; 18 to 24 inches tall; some problems with winter kill in open winters and a tendency to become weak and thin after three or four years

`Golden Showers’ - The species on steroids

`Zagreb’ - Deeper yellow, upright habit to 30 inches, fairly aggressive spreader

`Crème Brulee’ - brighter yellow and larger flowers than `Moonbeam’

‘Sweet Dreams’ - ruby red edged with lighter pink; limited information about hardiness

‘Limerock Ruby’ - weakly upright to 24 inches, rose-red flowers with pale edge on each ray; treat as annual in zone 5

Other Species: C. auriculata, dwarf eared tickseed - has produced some interesting new cultivars, such as ‘Zamphir’

C. tinctoria, annual coreopsis - native, with zonal rays

Chrysanthemum

Dendranthemum xgrandiflorum (morifolium)

Asteraceae

Form: Usually mounded, dense, as wide as or wider than tall; height and spread varies with cultivar but is typically under 18 inches

Foliage: Thick, lobed, green to greenish blue with a lighter underside; alternate

Flowers: Single, double, semi-double, with rays quilled, spooned, narrow, spiderlike, thick…many variations. Color range includes all but blue; size varies from one inch or smaller to 6 inches . August-October

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun to very light shade, average soils, well-drained. Withstands drought once established. Select cultivars proven for the zone; many are short-lived or sold as ‘hardy’ but survive a single winter. Allow spent foliage and flowers to remain on plants through winter to protect crowns and hold moisture. Pinch in June to encourage branching
Uses: Borders, texture contrast, blender.
Companions: balloonflower, candy lily, creeping veronica, short ornamental grasses
Propagation: Divide in spring, removing dead center crowns and replanting sprouts.
Cultivars: ‘Minn’ series (Minnesota); ‘Husker” (football mums, developed by the Fleming Brothers); jillions of others

Hybrid Red Chrysanthemum

Dendranthema x rubellum

Asteraceae

Form: More upright than mounded; with a rapidly spreading groundcover-like habit results in large clumps of uniform stems, height to 18 inches, spread 30 inches or more

Foliage: Alternate, deeply five-lobed, robust and rather thick, green-gray or bluish, very pubescent on underside; medium texture

Flowers: Numerous single daisy-like flowers 2 to 3 inches across, with pale straw-yellow, pink or light red ray flowers (depending on cultivar) around small center disc, flowers are in loosely branched corymbs and cover the plant; fragrant; August to September

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun to part shade (plants will become more open and flower color will be more stable); well-drained soil of average fertility. Tolerant of a wide range of soils, but not standing water. Pinch in early summer to reduce height and encourage branching if desired. Allow foliage to stand over winter to help protect the plant crown

Uses: Border, edger, naturalized gardens, groundcover, cut flower, fragrance garden.

Companions: balloonflower, candy lily, creeping veronica, short ornamental grasses

Propagation: Spring division or terminal cuttings

Cultivars: `Clara Curtis’ - deep pink, raised yellow centers, 18 to 24 inches tall

`Mary Stoker’ - straw-colored

Hardy Ageratum

Eupatorium coelestinum (Conoclinum coelestinum)

Asteraceae

Form: Rhizomatous, spreading into large colonies where happy; dense, uniform foliage and stem arrangement to a height of 30 inches and spread of 36 inches or more

Foliage: Opposite, bright green, rounded triangular shape; up to 3 inches long with prominent rounded teeth, very uniform and typically unspoiled by pests or diseases; medium texture

Flowers: Densely packed powderpuff corymbs or racemes of blue to bluish purple flowers ½ inch across; occur on terminal shoots and in leaf axils; individual flowers look like fringed buttons; August to September

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun to part shade; provide consistent moisture; the plant will tolerate poor soils if water is available but prefers average garden loam. Plants grown in slightly lean, drier conditions will not flop. Control spread by transplanting edges of colony; it can easily get out of control

Uses: Late season color, naturalized garden, cut flowers, edger.
Companions: taller pink or white asters, goldenrod, sedum, sand lovegrass, little bluestem, fall-blooming anemones

Propagation: Division, seed or cuttings

Cultivars: ‘Album’ - white flowers, foliage slightly smaller and more lime-green.

Hybrid Blanket Flower/Gaillardia

Gaillardia x grandiflora

Asteraceae

Form: Rounded, basal rosette of foliage to a height of 24 to 36 inches and spread of 18 inches in bloom

Flowers: Hot-colored flowers sometimes difficult to combine with others; red and yellow ray florets are zonal and notched; center may be burgundy or brown and rounded but not raised like coneflowers; flower width 3 to 4 inches; long season of bloom begins in June and lasts until frost

Foliage: Basal foliage 8 to 10 inches long on petiole, often pinnately lobed (alternate, entire and sessile on flower stems), gray-green as though the leaves have been covered with road gravel dust; medium texture

Seedheads: Round, fuzzy balls; fairly persistent during blooming season but not into winter

Culture: Full sun, light, sandy or loamy well-drained soil; cannot withstand heavy soils or standing water; tolerant of alkaline conditions and drought. Deadhead to prolong bloom period and rejuvenate foliage

Uses: Edger, naturalized gardens, wildflower gardens, hot spots; cut flowers.
Companions: Blue flax, veronica, Russian sage, sneezeweed, bearded iris, sedums, daylilies

Propagation: Seed or division; many hybrids can be produced from seed; Hybrids best for best garden performance are crossed with G. pulchellum, although these will be short-lived

Cultivars: `Goblin’
‘Baby Cole’
‘Arizona Sun’
‘Fanfare’
‘Burgunder’ - shorter, more or less red, gold or burgundy, rounded habit, or larger flowers

Other Species: Gaillardia aristata, blanketflower - Native to the Plains, and long-lived in prairies. Tolerant of drier conditions

Helen’s Flower/Sneezeweed

Helenium autumnale

Asteraceae

NATIVE
Form: Tall unbranched stems, upright early in season but flopping to the ground if not pinched or caged; height to 60 inches, spread to 36 inches

Flowers: Shades of red, yellow, burgundy, in many-flowered corymbs; brown center disc raised and rounded, and disproportionately large compared to shorter rays, which have at least three wavy or notched lobes; each flower 2 to 3 inches wide; long bloom time beginning mid-August and lasting until October

Foliage: Bright green, 6 to 8 inches long, lanceolate, lightly serrate, alternate in basal clump and decurrent on winged, unbranched stems; medium-coarse texture

Culture: Full sun to very light shade; average to lean or infertile soil; consistent moisture. Tolerant of clay and poor drainage; does well in intermittent wet and dry rain garden conditions. It will suffer in prolonged heat and drought. Pinch or cut back by 1/3 in spring to encourage branching and reduce tendency to flop; support may still be required. Cut back after flowering

Seedheads: Not effective

Uses: Cut flowers, naturalized areas, moist prairies, backdrop.
Companions: Fall-blooming asters, lilies, ornamental grasses, blue false indigo, hardy hibiscus

Propagation: Division or seed

Cultivars: Hybrids between H. autumnale, H. hoopesii, and H. bigelovii

‘Moerheim Beauty’ - mahogany rays, black disc

‘Butterpat’ - bright yellow

‘Wyndley’ - shorter, large deep yellow flowers.

‘Mardi Gras’ - short, very floriferous, rays a mixture of orange and rust and yellow

Annual Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Asteraceae

Form: Bold vertical stems, lightly branched when flowering begins, reaching heights of up to 10 feet and a spread of 24 inches or less.

Foliage: The huge leaves are broadly triangular, often as wide as they are long, reaching 8 to 10 inches on petioles of similar length; opposite in the basal clump and alternate on the stems. The margins are toothed and the leaf surfaces are rough to the touch. Bold texture

Flowers: Bright yellow-gold rays 1 to 2 inches long surround a broad brownish red central disk that may also be 1 inch or more across. Flowers occur singly and in clusters on the branched stems. July to October

Seedheads: Persistent until taken by birds and small mammals

Culture: Full sun and dry to average, well-drained soils produce dramatic plants. The seeds resent transplanting, and may be vandalized in gardens by mice or birds.

Uses: Backdrop, food for wildlife, naturalized areas, cut flowers.
Companions: ornamental grasses, Russian sage, butterflybush, coneflowers

Propagation: Seed

Cultivars: Lots of them, varying in height from 24 inches to 10 feet, with massive flowers in colors ranging from creamy white to deepest burgundy; many zonal

Sunflower Heliopsis/False Sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides

Asteraceae

NATIVE
Form: Tall, upright to slightly vase-shaped with loosely branched stems; height to 6 feet and spread to 48 inches; species is weedy in appearance but has been combined with H. scabra to produce good cultivars

Flowers: Yellow rays surrounding brownish yellow discs; up to 3 inches across, solitary; August to October, with good rebloom if deadheaded

Foliage: Opposite or whorled on 1 to 1 ½ inch long petioles, usually smooth, bright green, 4 to 5 inches long and less than half as wide with sharply pointed tips and strong serration. Foliage is fairly uniform in appearance; coarse or bold texture

Seedheads: Seeds provide food for wildlife; ornamental only until they are consumed

Culture: Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil of average to rich fertility; tolerant of a wide range of soils if consistent moisture is provided; extended drought will causing browning of foliage and flowers. Pinch in late spring to reduce height or stake to maintain form; cut back after flowering if to rejuvenate foliage if seed production is not desired. Plants come true from seed, and can become invasive. Oleander aphids and other aphids can be pests in late summer

Uses: Cut flowers, naturalized areas, prairies, wildflower gardens, specimen, wildlife,hot spots.
Companions: tall ornamental grasses, asters, Russian sage, blazing star, catmint, coneflowers, willow amsonia

Cultivars: ‘Summer Sun’ (‘Sommesonne’) - Double flowers on 36 inch stems, excellent cutting; turn brownish when under stress

‘Prairie Nights’ - rich gold flowers on dramatic dark purple-brown stems. More self-cleaning than ‘Summer Sun’

Kalimeris/Japanese Aster

Kalimeris pinnafitida (Astermoea mongolica)

Asteraceae

Form: Thin upright stems, forming a uniformly textured colony to a height of 24 inches and spread of 24 inches or more

Foliage: Alternate, clean green, pinnately lobed or entire; up to 3 inches long and ½ inch wide; fine texture, almost fernlike

Flowers: Round cream-colored powderpuffs like tiny chrysanthemums, may be single but all are fully double by the end of the season, held singly on 3 inch stems from leaf axils. Very long season of bloom, beginning in late July and extending until October

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun to half-shade; prefers uniformly moist soils of average fertility but tolerates dry conditions and loamy, clay or slightly sandy soils. Can be totally ignored and will still fill a place in the garden

Uses: Border, backdrop for smaller plants, cut flowers, texture contrast, naturalized gardens, prairies, hot spots.
Companions: rudbeckia, plumbago, coneflowers, sedums

Propagation: Division

Other species: Kalimeris japonicus `Shogun’ - variegated foliage, lost in the fine texture of the plant

Surprise Lily/Naked Ladies

Lycoris squamigera

Liliaceae

Form: Upright, vase-shaped clumps to 18 inches; summer dormancy

Foliage: Huge, tropical-appearing, straplike leaves 2 inches wide and up to 18 inches long in spring; persist until mid-May and then disappear

Flowers: Strong single scapes to 24 inches tall arise from “bare” ground, and the oblong bud encloses 4 to 7 pale pink, fragrant flowers, trumpet-shaped, 3 inches long. Bloom time is early to mid-August, with flowers persisting for 3 to 4 weeks, after which time the scape disappears

Seedhead: Not effective

Culture: Bulb is large and should be planted at least 6 inches deep in well-drained soil in sun to almost full shade; mark location to avoid disturbing. Divisions can take several years to reach blooming size.

Uses: Unusual spring form and fall flower; mix with other perennials that will hide dormant stage. Surprise lilies work well in beds of hostas, as a foreground for medium shrubs, and with variegated Solomon’s seal
Companions: hostas, solomon's seal

Propagation: Bulb offsets or gifts from friends

Orange Coneflower/Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia fulgida

Asteraceae

Form: Rhizomatous habit develops large, fairly uniform colonies that appear flat-topped rather than rounded; height 24 inches, spread 24 inches or more
Foliage: Dark green, hairy leaves with obvious veins, oblong to lanceolate, 2 to 5 inches long in dense basal clumps; ornamental even in formal gardens, coarse texture

Flowers: Bright orange-yellow rays, 2 to 4 inches long and flat to slightly drooping, surround small but distinct rounded blackish-purple cone that persists into the winter; very long bloom season from early August into late September; flowers single but stems may be branched and hold a loose bouquet of individual blooms

Culture: Full sun to half shade; consistent moisture will enhance performance, especially in south or west exposures; tolerant of a wide range of soils. Cut flowering stems after bloom to reduce spread; or allow to stand for winter interest. Occasionally susceptible to insect damage. Difficult to move in large sizes and must be constantly monitored for moisture need

Seedheads: Persistent and ornamental, lasting through winter

Uses: Naturalized areas, edger, cut flowers, prairie, hot spots, multi-season interest.
Companions: grasses, coneflowers, yarrow, Russian sage, catmint, interesting with purple-foliaged plants.

Cultivars: var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’ - uniform, excellent basal foliage, stem leaves progressively smaller, yellow-orange flowers to 4 inches in good conditions

Other Species: Rudbeckia missouriensis, Missouri coneflower - foliage thin and lanceolate, flowers yellow with no hint of orange, center cone green and yellow; may be less reliably hardy and more susceptible to prolonged drought stress. Habit tends to be weakly upright; support by other perennials or grasses is recommended.

R. ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’ - a hybrid, more refined foliage, brighter flowers in profusion

R. trilobata, brown--eyed Susan, R. nitidus

Black-eyed Susan/Gloriosa Daisy

Rudbeckia hirta

Asteraceae

Form: Short-lived perennial best treated as an annual in northern zones; clump-former with height and spread varying depending on cultivar

Flowers: Orange-yellow rays, zonal, orange, brown, rust depending on cultivar; dark brown discs that persist into winter; flowers almost dry on the plants, extending the bloom season

Foliage: Extremely hairy, dark green, alternate, lanceolate, 2 to 5 inches long; stems also hairy. Medium-coarse texture

Seedheads: Less effective than perennial coneflowers

Culture: Tolerant of extended heat and drought (better than R. fulgida), but not reliably perennial. Allow to reseed or start new plants each year Favorite food of several caterpillars, but the damage is worth the end result

Cultivars: ‘Becky’ Mix - to 10 inches tall, mix of colors

‘Rustic Colors’ - to 24 inches, mixed colors

‘Autumn Sunset’ - very short, to 15 inches, with free-flowering bronze/orange zoned rays

‘Prairie Sun’ - huge glowing yellow zonal flowers with a green eye

‘Cherry Brandy’ - beautiful zonal rays with deep burgundy centers and lighter pink rays; rays dry on the plant, prolonging interest

Golden Glow/Cutleaf Coneflower

Rudbeckia laciniata

Asteraceae

Form: Upright and weakly vase-shaped, developing large open clumps; foliage height and spread 36 inches; flowering stems to 72 inches

Foliage: Very large dull green leaves to 10 inches or more long with 3 to 7 deep rounded lobes on lower leaves and 3 on sessile upper leaves; mitten-shaped appearance; coarse texture

Flowers: Limp yellow rays up to 4 inches long appear to flutter around raised green discs; flowers held singly on open branched stems well above foliage; long bloom time beginning in July and continuing through September, especially if plants are regularly deadheaded

Culture: Full sun to part shade; consistently moist soils preferred but tolerant of drier conditions if supplemental water can be provided during drought; will show heat and water stress quickly by drooping. Plants can flop in high winds because of height; pinch or locate near dense plants for support. Cut flowering stems after bloom and deadhead for extended season

Seedheads: Not effective

Uses: Backdrop, specimen, naturalized areas, pond edges or wetland gardens, cut flowers.
Companions: asters, butterflybush, globe thistle, ornamental grasses, joepye weed, veronica

Propagation: Divide clumps in spring or fall

Cultivars: ‘Herbstonne’ - Many-petaled, drooping yellow flowers surrounding bright green disc, up to 7 feet tall; may be a hybrid between R. laciniata and R. nitidus

‘Goldquelle’ and ‘Golden Glow’ are other good selections

Pincushion Flower

Scabiosa columbaria

Dipsacaceae

Form: Compact basal mound, height and spread 12 inches; 18 inches in bloom

Foliage: Oblong-lanceolate basal leaves, greenish with white bloom; stem leaves are opposite and pinnately divided; pubescent. Medium-fine texture

Flowers: Blue to blue-pink, flattened inflorescences 2 to 3 inches wide, in a hard involucre. The shallowly lobed petals surround the central ‘pincushion’ and “pins” (stamens). Flowers are borne prolifically, singly or in two’s and three’s; June to October

Seedheads: Small round balls, not effective for long periods

Culture: Full sun to very light shade, well-drained fertile soil; mulch to maintain cool soil temperatures. Shear after initial bloom to encourage rebloom. High temperatures and humidity will slow bloom. May be short-lived

Uses: Cut flowers, edger, mass of color in border.
Companions: threadleaf coreopsis, small ornamental grasses, bergenia

Propagation: Seed, cuttings, division

Cultivars: ‘Butterfly Blue’ and ‘Pink Mist’ - bloom so long and so profusely that they provide season-long color; not long-lived, and hard to transplant successfully

Other Species: S. caucasica - much larger, with a wide range of flower colors.

Autumn Joy Sedum

Sedum x `Herbstfreude’

Crassulaceae

Form: Uniform round mounds of thick, fleshy stems; can reach 24 inches in height and spread; taller in bloom

Foliage: Early to emerge in spring; leaves alternate or whorled, large, fleshy, with pointed teeth irregularly spaced along margin, sessile; bright green, with prominent mid-rib

Flowers: Star-shaped; five petals, five sepals, ten stamens in tight, flat corymbs up to 6” across; tight buds look like broccoli, gradually opening to pale pink that deepens to warm bronze-pink

Seedheads: Persistent, dark brown

Culture: Full sun preferred but tolerates part shade, average to infertile dry soil; cut stems in early June to control flopping; foliage may be disfigured by insecs

Uses: Multi-season interest, butterflies and bees, hell strips.
Companions: Russian sage, goldenrod, other sedums, little bluestem, daylilies, hummingbird mint

Propagation: Division in spring, root or stem cuttings. Seedlings may not be true
Cultivars: ‘Autumn Fire’ - an improved ‘Autumn Joy’ with far less tendency to flop

‘Ruby Glow’ - blue-green foliage, 6 to 9 inches tall, bright ruby red flowers that are not held upright; tends to open up in the center when bloom stems fall over

‘Vera Jameson’ - bronze foliage, pink flowers, short stature to 12 inches

Dark-foliaged selections are usually S. telephium or S. purpureum, ‘Black Jack,’ ‘Matrona,’ ‘Bon Bon,’ ‘Xenox,’ `Abbeydore’

Canadian Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

Asteraceae

Form: Upright, arching stems form large colonies from creeping rhizomes; height 48 inches, spread to 48 inches or more

Foliage: Dark green, alternate, narrow and lanceolate, up to 4 inches long and 1 ½ inches wide, larger toward base, sessile and sharply toothed with three prominent veins; medium texture

Flowers: Tiny bright yellow flowers held mostly on the upper side of branches in a large, open plume-shaped inflorescence, more rays than discs; bloom may occur along a large portion of the stem in the leaf axils from August to September

Culture: Full sun to part shade; moist or dry, well-drained soil; tolerant of a wide range of soil types. Provide good air circulation to reduce rust and foliar diseases. Pinch in late spring to reduce height; deadhead or cut flowering stems after bloom to rejuvenate foliage. Spreads rapidly in loose, moist soil; divide regularly to control

Seedheads: Not effective, but cut flowers hold their color well when dried

Uses: Naturalized areas, prairies, wildflower gardens, wetlands, backdrop, butterfly gardens, cut flowers, dried flowers.
Companions: ornamental grasses, butterfly milkweed, blazing star, coneflowers, sedums, balloonflower
Propagation: Divide in spring; stem cuttings

Cultivars: Native parent of many excellent garden hybrids including the following:

‘Golden Baby’ - 24 inches tall, early bloomer in late June to July

‘Cloth of Gold’ - dense flower clusters, golden, shorter to 18 inches

‘Crown of Rays’ - 24 to 36 inches tall with widespread plumes, rising from more refined foliage

Rough Goldenrod ‘Fireworks’

Solidago rugosa

Asteraceae

Form: The cultivar is a spectacular, upright plant to 48 inches in bloom with a spread of 36 inches or more

Foliage: Alternate, lanceolate leaves have scattered teeth on the margins and prominent veins. The leaves are dark green, and approximately the same size for the length of the unbranched stalks. Medium texture

Flowers: Open, terminal panicles of flowers occupy the top 12 to 18 inches of the stalks in late August to October. The individual ‘branches’ of the panicles are slightly arching and nearly horizontal, with the densely packed, deep golden flowers arranged on the upper surfaces. The plant looks like an explosion of sparklers in bloom. Watch for the appearance of different foliage stems; if they appear more like S. canadensis, reversion may be occurring.

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun to part shade and average to moist soils quickly produce large hedgelike plants. Cut back after flowering to reduce potential for foliar diseases.

Uses: Cut flowers, back of the border, butterfly garden, rain garden.
Companions: fall blooming asters, ornamental grasses, coneflowers

Propagation: Division in spring

Golden Torch/Wichita Mountains Goldenrod

Solidago x ‘Wichita Mountains’

Asteraceae

Form: Upright, solid plant with unbranched stems, reaching a height of 30 to 36 inches in flower and a spread of 24 to 30 inches

Foliage: Small, narrowly ovate to lanceolate leaves are alternate with entire margins, 1 to 2 inches long and ½ inch wide. The color is gray-green. Medium texture

Flowers: Unusual and distinct form for the inflorescence, which is a dense spike of small golden yellow flowers. The individual flowers are on short racemes from the leaf axils, but the combined appearance is similar to a column of flowers. September

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Full sun and average to dry, well-drained soil will keep plants from lodging. Moist conditions can lead to anthracnose, which appears as completely brown stems almost overnight, or crown rot.

Uses: Butterfly garden, cut flowers, prairie, hot spots.
Companions: pitcher sage, fallblooming asters, yucca

Propagation: Division

Meadow-rue/Columbine

Thalictrum rochebrunianum

Ranunculaceae

Form: Broad, rounded mounds of foliage to a height and spread of 24 to 30 inches; flowering stems can exceed 6 feet, when the plant assumes an upright and airy appearance

Foliage: Blue-green, slightly glaucous or filmy, divided three to four times into threes like a ferny version of columbine; fine texture

Flowers: Lavender, each flower less than ½ inch across, lacking petals (apetalous) but sepals are showy and stamens are numerous; borne on wide, fluffy terminal panicles; July to September

Seedheads: Not effective

Culture: Part shade; well-drained soils high in organic matter or of loamy consistency. Do not allow to dry out. Flowering stems are strong and rarely need support; cut back after flowering. Division is rarely necessary.

Uses: Airy backdrop, shade garden, excellent cut flowers.
Companions: Japanese or hybrid anemones, monkshood, large blue hostas, bergenia

Propagation: Division or seed

Cultivars: ‘Lavender Mist’ - deeper violet flowers, darker gold stamens

Other Species: T. delaveyi, T. aquilegifolium

South American Verbena

Verbena bonariensis

Verbenaceae

Form: Stiffly branched, open, and twiglike, this annual is a ‘scrim’ plant, reaching a height of 48 inches and a spread of 12 inches. ANNUAL

Foliage: The opposite leaves are sessile, rough to the touch, lanceolate, up to 5 inches long and ½ inch wide on lower stems and smaller on flowering stems. They are dark green with toothed margins, and a distinct white midvein. The foliage is very sparsely arranged on the square stems, which are branched. Medium-fine texture

Flowers: Terminal clusters of bright purple to purple-pink flowers with five petals, each flower only 1/8 inch wide but borne in profusion over a long season. The flowers appear to float above the stems, adding height and grace to the garden. July to frost

Seedheads: Not effective. Allow some plants to set seed for the following season

Culture: Full sun to very light shade, and average to dry soils will result in good stands of this verbena. It is tolerant of drought and loves the heat. The seeds emerge late in the spring, but germinate readily. The plant will continue to bloom without deadheading.

Uses: Backdrop, cut flowers, foreground height without overpowering a border.
Companions: groundcover verbenas, threadleaf coreopsis, rudbeckia, lambsears

Propagation: Seed