Boltonia

Botanical/Latin
   Boltonia

Pronunciation
   bowl-Tone-ee-a

Common Name
   Bolton's Aster

Hardiness zone range
   3 - 9

General Comments
Boltonias are tall, Aster-like perennials that bloom in late summer and autumn with thousands of 1 inch daisies sprouting on stout stems above handsome, bluish-green foliage. Depending upon the cultivar selection, the colors are either white or pink; all have the little yellow, daisy-like centers. Where reliability and ease of culture is required, they rank right at the top of the list.

Uses
Flowering when the days are becoming shorter and many summer perennials are beginning to decline, Boltonia are a great way to extend color and interest in beds and borders. The white and pale pink shades reflect the light beautifully and "lift" the display, giving it life and renewed vitality. They also provide height and substance and are often used towards the rear of plantings, or as a back drop to other perennials. The little flowers are carried in such profusion that they look like a multitude of stars twinkling on rounded, see-through bushes, or like a big Baby's Breath. Where space allows, put them together in massed groups to create bold splashes of airy color. Their undemanding, carefree nature makes them ideal subjects for places like sloping banks, hillsides, and natural style wild flower meadows. While butterflies will visit, deer usually will not, preferring other more palatable things instead. They make good cut flowers and can be used either fresh or dried.

Light Preference
Full Sun. Thriving and performing best in Sunny positions, Boltonia will tolerate some shade. It is noticeable that as the degree of shade increases, they tend to flower less and become taller, lankier and often flop over. become taller, lankier and often flop over.

Culture
They are not fussy plants, performing well on any reasonably fertile soil. They are free from pests and diseases and require very little maintenance to succeed. They will even tolerate poor soil, summer heat, and dry conditions surprisingly well; however, they flower better and will be stronger and fuller in good soil conditions. While they tolerate a "leaner diet", they respond well to good culture. In rich, moist fertile Conditions, they may become a bit too big and full, so it is a good idea to do some early summer trimming by cutting the stems back to about half. This encourages shorter, stockier growth that is less prone to flopping over.

Background
Boltonias are native to eastern North America where they grow in gravelly soils and sandy thickets. They were collected and described in 1758 as Boltonia glastifolia, but it was thirty years later that a French botanist, C.L. L'Heritier, introduced them to cultivation. Because of their resemblance to Asters, the species name was modified to Boltonia asteroides, and it is from this species that our garden cultivars are derived. The well named B.'Snowbank' is an excellent selection that has larger white flowers and tighter habit. While B. 'Pink Beauty' (a chance seedling that was spotted by designer Edith Eddleman at Powell's nursery in North Carolina) has a looser habit and showy clusters of soft pink daisies.

Splendor Suggestions
If support is needed to keep the stems upright in windy fall weather, it is important to begin the process early. Strong bamboo canes or stout stakes should be inserted at the base of the clump. As the shoots grow during the season, strong twine is tied around the clump and interlaced between the stems. This process is repeated during the season. The stems are supported and largely disguise the support material. This is particularly important if the plants are positioned towards the rear of the border or have some shade that causes them to lean outwards.

Companion Plants
Boltonia combine well with Asters and the other native style plants that flourish at this time of the season: Heliopsis 'Ballerina' (False Sunflower), Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan), or Solidago 'Golden Fleece' are examples. Grasses, with their silken flower heads and dramatic foliage, also associate nicely, so try them with Miscanthus 'Gracillimus' or the big waving plumes of the Northern Pampas grass, Erianthus ravennae. The feathery, semi-pendulous Pennisetums (Fountain Grass) are additional options.