Christie’s Blog

August 2024

Asters and Japanese Anemone

Long Blooming  Color for Fall

Asters and Japanese Anemone are a treat for gardeners in late summer and fall. They don’t require much work and have striking reliable blooms.

Aster Characteristics

• Asters are deer resistant with a star shaped flower.
• Flowers are pink, white, purple or blue.
• The symphyotrichum variety are native to North America.
• They are great for borders, rock gardens and even wildflower gardens.
• Seed heads attract birds such as finch, cardinals and chickadees.

Aster Care

• Asters are said to not like hot midday sun although I have always had them in sunny conditions. For me, they have done fine .
• They need well drained and loamy soil (easy to dig in).
• Some asters you may need to stake up if they get too top heavy.
• Blooms are more prolific in fall if you pinch them back in June or cut them back half way if they are really woody by June.

Japanese Anemone

Characteristics

• I am reviewing  the fall blooming anemone otherwise known as ‘windflowers’, not the spring blooming anemones.
• They are a reliable perennial bloomer and come back each year.
• They are from the buttercup family.
• They have gorgeous taller standing blooms in white or pink with lots of flower shapes.
• They spread a lot so find a larger area where you don’t care if they take off.
• They are great pollinators but are native to Asia.
• Bad news- they are toxic to dogs and cats.

Care

• Kept soil moist.
• They like full sun or partial shade. I have always had them in shade since it is hard to find fall bloomers in shade. They thrive!
• Dead head old blooms down to the ground with shears or pruners when the leaves start looking ugly.

I hope this helps when you get the yearning to buy something at the greenhouse. I’m going to the nursery next week since we will be in September and for me that count as fall!

Christie lives in Manakin Sabot , Virginia where she manages a 3 acre garden. Her blogs are written from her 35 years as a personal and professional gardener.