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Antirrhinum (an-tee-RI-num)
Snapdragon |
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Antirrhinum reptans is a wild relative
of the much hybridized garden Snapdragon. Low growing, with mat forming
gray foliage, it’s attractive in when not in bloom. The flowers are
ivory-white, typical snap form, over a long period. For us it has
performed best in full sun with good drainage. |
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NEW 15670
Antirrhinum reptans
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Sun / 4-6" / Zone7-9 / Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart Pots /
$8.95 ea. |
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This is one of the most familiar and
popular perennials. They can be planted in average soil in shade or sun
but bloom time in the South will be shortened in hot sun. Individual
Columbine plants are usually not long lived but most, especially the
species, will reseed themselves readily. The Columbine Leaf Miner is a
common pest, and at least here in the mid-Atlantic if you grow
Columbines you’ll probably eventually encounter them. They can be
controlled by spring sprayings, but for most people it isn’t worth the
trouble. While the leaf tunnels can be unsightly they aren’t usually
serious. When our plants are finished blooming, we just cut them back
to the ground and fresh new foliage soon appears that lasts until fall.
Aquilegia chrysantha
‘Yellow Queen’ is a named form of the western native Golden
Columbine. The large, showy blooms are deep golden yellow with long,
sometimes lighter colored spurs. Here in the mid-Atlantic this species
is by far the longest blooming and our plants generally flower well into
the summer. If I were forced to chose just one Columbine to grow, this
would be it. In the border. |
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Aruncus
aethusifolius is a miniature version of Goatsbeard with a
tight habit and white, Astilbe-like blooms. This makes a great
subject for a woodland rockery or a companion for small wildflowers. |
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These are plants that are
definitely well adapted to our extremes of climate and rarely require
any special care. A few species like Aster divaricatus, the
White Wood Aster, are even at
home in that most difficult of gardening environments, dry shade. The
leaves are heart or triangle shaped, moderately spreading in loose soils
to form a thick groundcover. They produce clusters of small, white,
daisy flowers in late summer and fall.
Aster divaricatus
‘Eastern Star’ is a selection made by North Creek Nurseries that
has a shorter form and dark stems. |
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19405 Aster 'Eastern Star' Sold
Out
Part Shade-Shade / 1-2' / Zone3-8 / Summer-Fall Bloom /
Quart Pots / $8.95 ea. |
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The newest and probably best form
of our native Calico Aster is a
Dutch selection called
Aster laterifolius
‘Lady in Black’. The foliage is tinted purple black, especially
in cool weather. The tiny flowers are produced in the thousands, small
white petals surrounding pink centers, a great contrast to the leaves. |
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19800 Aster ‘Lady in Black’
Sold Out
Sun-Part Shade / 2-3’ / Zone4-10 / Fall Bloom / Quart Pots /
$8.95 ea. |
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Another candidate for the dry shade
environment is Aster
cordifolius, the Blue Wood
Aster. “Blue” in the name is a bit of a stretch - all the plants
I’ve ever seen have been a pale violet/blue, attractive but not that
blue. The leaves are heart-shaped (cordifolius), topped by clusters of
daisy flowers in early fall. These plants are tough and easy - 2 very
good traits in any plant. Aster cordifolius
'Avondale' is a selection noted for its prolific flowering. |
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19398 Aster cordifolius 'Avondale'
Sold Out
Part
Shade-Shade / 1-2' / Zone3-8 / Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart
Pots / $8.95 ea. |
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Aster Note:
Apparently the crazy guys over at Nomenclature HQ have determined that
these native asters are actually in the Genus Symphyotrichum, as in
Symphyotrichum cordifolium, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum, and
Symphyotrichum divaricatum. Doesn’t quite roll off the tongue like Aster
does it? I think we’ll just wait for Symphyotrichum to come into common
usage before we list them that way. |
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