Autumnal Explosion of Asteraceae

Fading milkweed weaves in between the lavender of Drummond aster, the white of calico aster, and the yellow froth of Canada goldenrod.

Autumn is for flowers. In September, the garden explodes into frothy clouds of aster and goldenrod delighting swarms of bees, butterflies, and bugs. It's a bouncing sea of white, purple, and yellow and if you stop a moment, the place is literally humming. I'm afraid I let the boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) go because, well, bees. It's hard for me to deprive the little bugs, flies, and bees that love the tiny nectar-rich flowers.

It's also time to play Spot the Goldfinch as they stalk the developing seedheads of coneflower and Rudbeckia that are adding big showy grace notes to the otherwise deceptively delicate sprays of aster. They are very chatty, especially early in the morning, and I imagine they are getting caught up on the gossip.

We are down to the next couple of F.O.S.Rs in training (Fat Old Smart Rabbit) as the owls, hawks, foxes, and occasional coyote have picked off the young and dumb ones. Good eating, guys! A pair of feral cats (since moved on) did a number on the chipmunks, but they seem to be bouncing back a bit. Sigh. Oh, well, more fox food for winter.

The days are getting shorter and the trees are considering fall color. They aren't ready to give in, though, and plentiful September rains have likely pushed them back to October and November. So in the meantime, I'll pet the bumble bees in the asters, plant the odds and ends, and ponder what bulbs to tuck in here and there.

Fallen Stars of Autumn

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

Autumn stars have fallen to earth - as asters! October brings us a treasure trove of brilliant daisy-like flowers in a rainbow of colors. Smashing paired with grasses and evergreen shrubs, asters can be found from shade to sun. I love them for their late season color, but also because they are a last feeding stop for pollinators.

Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)

We are blessed with a large variety of native asters in Illinois as well as a huge selection of cultivars on the market. The native asters can be quite rambunctious. I find that if you pinch them back in July, they will be much more bushy in habit and bloom later for an extended season.

'October Skies' aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'October Skies')

I do have a soft spot for one cultivar of aster -'October Skies'. This stunning large rounded plant features quarter-sized soft blue flowers with golden centers. I like to run my hands over the foliage as it is particularly fragrant. As with any aster, it is beloved by bees.

There are tall asters like Drummond's (Symphyotrichum drummondii) which can grow deep in the woods. There are tiny asters like heath aster 'Snow Flurry' (Symphyotrichum ericoides 'Snow Flurry') which is a groundcover that forms a soft wave of tiny white blossoms on needle-like foliage. There are robust plants like New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) that resemble a shrub. With so many to chose from, they are easy to add to a perennial border or native landscape. The bees and migrating butterflies will thank you!