Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Monday, December 8, 2014

Willowleaf aster, a must for your garden!

While you're perusing the garden catalogs for beauties to add to your garden please look for Symphyotrichum praealtum.
Just look at the color and bloom the morning after out temperatures dipped into the teens (Fahrenheit). A plant like this needs to be in your garden!
"Symphyotrichum praealtum is a tall grass prairie native that is harder to find than a tall grass prairie in Tennessee. It's listed as an endangered and threatened species in several states, including Tennessee, and in several Canadian provinces. (Go here to read about rescue efforts in Canada.) " Luckily for me, blogging friend, Sweetbay, generously shared several starts of 'Miss Bessie' a few years back.  They bloomed that first fall and every November since then. It's ironic and wonderful that an endangered Middle Tennessee wildflower found its way home from NC.  The resident pollinators send their thanks and love to you SB."

I've written about 'Miss Bessie' before...Sweetbay refers to Willowleaf aster as 'Miss Bessie' and I do, too. 'Miss Bessie' has been the star of several Wildflower Wednesday post and she's a member of the Clay and Limestone rough and tumble wildflower club. Most of the rough and tumbles are late summer/early fall bloomers, but, Willowleaf aster shines in my November garden!  You know how much I love all the rough and tumble wildflowers, they're simple flowers that bloom their hearts out and require no special care, well, that's exactly how I would describe Willowleaf aster. She's an ex-aster, expect her to travel, but, you can easily transplant any seedlings to other parts of your garden. She stands straight and tall until the top heavy blooms lean toward the sun. The flower heads sway in the slightest breeze and only patience and hundreds of shots yields a good photo of nectaring pollinators.
(excerpted from earlier posts)
Green metallic bees just before the frost
Knowing that this extremely important late fall pollinator food source could survive several 17F nights makes me jump for joy.

Native in green~Not sure why South Carolina is not on the list!

I recommend we all plant more of this native beauty! As you can see, it's native in eastern North America...except South Carolina! Sources suggest that it's a go to food source for migrating Monarch Butterflies. If you garden along the monarch trail Willowleaf aster might be a perfect addition to your garden. (Prairie Moon Nursery has seeds).

So, my dear readers, please join me in planting more native ex-asters! I know your pollinators will appreciate the marvelous and floriferous 'Miss Bessie' and you'll love having blooms in late fall.

xoxogail

PS It goes without saying, but you know me, I have to say it. If you want pollinators to visit your garden, you must, never, ever, ever, ever use pesticides. I'm not kidding...NEVER!


Posts about 'Miss Bessie':
One of the last bees to visit (here)
The best native ex-aster is a very late bloomer(here)
Where have all the pollinators gone? (here)

Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.

11 comments:

  1. A wonderful ex-aster indeed and you are lucky to have such a great friend to share hers with you! I love adding as many asters as i can for fall. I just sowed a bunch of aster seed last month in hopes of adding more to the meadow area. I will have to keep my eyes open for this one!

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  2. I admired 'Miss Bessie' on Sweetbay's site earlier. I'm equally envious of yours. Too bad its range doesn't include Southern California.

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  3. Summery looking blooms even in the depths of winter, fabulous!

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  4. Oh my--I had no idea it could take that type of cold and keep on blooming! I do have a spot where I could see planting it. Maybe I'll try to get some seeds or plants from Prairie Nursery or Prairie Moon Nursery. :)

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  5. Sounds like an excellent choice. I will be on the look out for it.

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  6. Looks like a winner. I'll add it to (lengthy) list of coveted plants. Thanks for the recommendation :)

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  7. Re the map reference, how curious that it is not endemic to only South Carolina! Is it because of a difference in soil, I wonder? I would like this plant coming up around and in bare shrubs for support, I think. I love providing late food sources for pollinators.

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  8. I've long admired 'Miss Bessie' on Sweetbay's blog, but I didn't know she grew in your garden, too, Gail. The ability to survive such cold temps and a food source for Monarchs is enough to convince me to add her to my plant wish list!

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  9. What a great plant to extend the growing season, too! Still blooming in December - wow! Glad to see some endangered plants are being revived in their native region. It is sad how many plants we lose.

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  10. The pollinators do love this plant! I think it's a must, especially in a Southeastern garden, because not very much is blooming at that time of year and the pollinators are still active and need food. In November the chief sources of food here are Miss Bessie and groundsel trees.

    Plus, the flowers are purple and both the plant and the flowers are tough as nails. I am so glad Niche Gardens offers her for sale.

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  11. I have this at my home in Central Texas, suburb of Austin Texas and love it. Pollinator magnate! I love Native Plants and this is a great one. I got my start with bare roots from Native American Seed. Now I have lots of Tall Aster or Willow Aster, enough for the Garden Club and Native Plant Society plant sales.

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