Symphyotrichum laeve

Smooth Blue Aster

Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  3-9

·        Height: 3-5 feet

·        Spread: 18-24 inches

·        Bloom Time: (mid) late July to October

·        Bloom: blue-violet rays with a yellow center; star-like

·        Light: full sun to partial sun

·        Soil: sandy, loamy

·        Moisture: dry to medium

·        Use: prairie, butterfly garden, naturalized landscape, border, rain garden, bio swale, wetland; stream bank stabilization; erosion control; attracts birds, butterflies and bees; a favorite nectar source for migrating monarch butterflies; cut flowers;  roadside revegetation

·        Care: can be pruned back until mid-June to create a denser habit with more flowers

·        Concerns: no serious insect or disease problems

·        Native to: Dane County and most of Wisconsin; North America from Maine to British Columbia, south to Georgia and Arkansas, and west to New Mexico

·        Notes: fibrous roots; hardy; smooth leaves; tough blue stems allow it to stand tall; deer resistant; tolerates black walnut

·        Supplier: Agrecol Native Nursery

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Demonstration Prairie I010

       Content produced through:

       Dane County UWEX Master Gardener Volunteer Program 

       Questions?  

       Dane County UWEX Horticulture Program

       

Dalea purpurea

Purple Prairie Clover

Family: Fabaceae (Bean & Pea Family)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  3-8

·        Height: 1-3 feet

·        Spread: 1-1.5 feet

·        Bloom Time: June to August

·        Bloom: purple 2" long, dense spike blooming from the bottom upward

·        Light: full sun

·        Soil: sandy, loamy

·        Moisture: dry to medium; tolerates drought

·        Use: prairie, naturalized area, meadow, native plant garden, wild garden; attracts butterflies, birds and many types of bees

·        Care: easy to grow, low maintenance

·        Concerns: no serious insect or disease problems; rabbits like this plant

·        Native to: Dane County, southern and central Wisconsin; North America

·        Notes: self-seeds;  thick and deep taproot; a nitrogen-fixing plant

·        Supplier:  Agrecol Native Nursery

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Demonstration Prairie I027

       Content produced through:

       Dane County UWEX Master Gardener Volunteer Program 

       Questions?  

       Dane County UWEX Horticulture Program

       

Rudbeckia triloba

Brown-eyed Susan

Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  4-8

·        Height: 1-5 feet

·        Spread: 1-1.5 feet

·        Bloom Time: July to October

·        Bloom: yellow rays with a brown-purple disk

·        Light: full sun

·        Soil: loamy

·        Moisture: medium to moist

·        Use: prairie, naturalize area, wildflower meadow, cottage garden, native plant garden and border; attracts birds, bees, beetles, flies and  butterflies; great source of pollen and nectar; erosion control; cut flower

·        Care: low maintenance, deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional bloom and/or to prevent any unwanted self-seeding

·        Concerns: no serious insect or disease problem; short-lived perennial; susceptible to powdery mildew; watch for slugs and snails

·        Native to: Dane County, southern and central Wiscosin; from New England to Minnesota, south to Georgia and Oklahoma

·        Notes: deer, drought tolerant; naturalize through self-seeding

·        Supplier:  Agrecol Native Nursery

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Demonstration Prairie I024, Naturalistic Garden H217

       Content produced through:

       Dane County UWEX Master Gardener Volunteer Program 

       Questions?  

       Dane County UWEX Horticulture Program

       

Euthamia graminifolia

Grass-leaved Goldenrod

Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)

       

·        Hardiness Zones:  3-9

·        Height: 1-3 feet

·        Spread: 1-2 feet

·        Bloom Time: July to October

·        Bloom: head with 15-25 tiny, yellow rays; arranged with many, 1 1/4" rounded clusters

·        Light: full sun

·        Soil: sandy, loamy

·        Moisture: dry to moist

·        Use: prairie, meadow, natural area, border; attracts pollinators; erosion control

·        Care: easy to grow and low maintenance

·        Concerns: no serious insect or disease problem; creeping rhizomes can form patches or extensive colonies

·        Native to: Dane County and most of Wisconsin; Canada & most of United States

·        Notes: slender stems usually have lines of fine white hairs; alternate leaves are up to 4 inches long, narrow and have smooth margins

·        Supplier:  Agrecol Native Nursery

·        Teaching Garden Location & Code: Demonstration Prairie I019

       Content produced through:

       Dane County UWEX Master Gardener Volunteer Program 

       Questions?  

       Dane County UWEX Horticulture Program