This native perennial with daisy-like flowers blooms in late summer and into fall.
Boltonia unfurls more blooms than you might count.
The tall, showy plant with long and narrow blue-green foliage is native to central and eastern North America.
Credit: Bill Holt
It serves as a food source and habitat for wildlife and attracts butterflies.
Where to Plant Boltonia
Plant boltonia in full sun with a slightly acidic to neutralpH.
Ideally, the soil should be on the wet side.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
In its natural habitat, the plant grows in wet meadows, marshes, and along stream banks.
It is also a great choice for arain garden.
Boltonia looks best when planting in drifts or groups.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the pot and about the same depth.
Place the plant in the hole and fill in original soil to the top of the root ball.
Gently tamp down the soil and water it well.
Water it regularly during the first growing season to encourage young plants to develop a strong root system.
Space tall varieties 3 to 4 feet apart and dwarf varieties 1 to 2 feet apart.
Boltonia Care Tips
Like most native perennials, boltonia is an easy-care plant.
Light
Boltonia can be planted in partial shade but blooms best infull sun.
A soil pH between 5.5 and 7.0 is ideal.
The plant is winter-hardy and is not bothered by high humidity in the summer.
Fertilizer
Boltonia does not need much fertilizer and too muchnitrogencan lead to excessive foliage and no flowers.
Usually a one-time utility in the spring when the new growth starts is sufficient.
Use a bloom-boosting high-phosphorus fertilizer such as 5-10-5, following product label instructions.
Keep in mind that container plants need more frequent watering and fertilization than plants in the landscape.
Pests and Problems
Boltonia is free of any serious pest and disease issues.
It is susceptible to powdery mildew.
How to Propagate Boltonia
Boltonia can bepropagated by divisionor from seed.
The seeds need 60 days ofcold stratification.
Leave the pots outdoors and keep the soil evenly moist.
It has tiny white daisy-like flowers.
Pink Beauty
This tall boltonia cultivar blooms profusely in August and September.
The flowers are pale pink with a golden center.
Nana
Boltonia asteroidesvar.latisquama’Nana' is a dwarf cultivar that only grows 2 to 3 feet tall.
The flowers are rose-lilac in color with yellow center disks.
Like boltonia, sedum grows in a wide zone range.
Zone 3-10
Goldenrod
Goldenrodbegins displaying its yellow blossoms beginning in late summer and continuing into fall.
Zone 4-8
Perennial Sunflower
Unlike annual sunflowers,perennial sunflowersdont branch.
They come in varying shades of gold and a softer lemon yellow and make attractive cutting flowers.
The result is a bed full of colorful heat-lovers that are also perfect for cutting.
Frequently Asked Questions
The plant spreads fast via rhizomes but not aggressively.
Because it is a native plant with wildlife value, its naturalizing properties are usually welcome.
The native distribution of the plant stretches from North Dakota to Maine and south to Florida and Texas.
It is also found in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Oregon, and Idaho.
