notes and musings from a perennial gardener
This outstanding perennial is still not commonplace, but it’s steadily gaining in popularity thanks to several new hybrids. Both the native form and the hybrids are worth growing. All are highly rated by horticulturalists and gardeners alike. If you’re not familiar with it, read on and find out why.
April 24, 2023 – Author’s Note: This article has been corrected. It originally misstated a cultivar as Bluebird. I found the original tag still at the base of the plant this spring. It is actually Skyscraper.
Asters are a confusing lot. Many varieties look similar, so it’s easy to mix them up. Also called Michaelmas daisies because they bloom around St. Michaelmas Day (Sept. 29), asters comprise a huge and diverse family. Usually upstaged by their flashier mum companions, asters are frequently passed over. Or they end up as a last-minute addition to the shopping cart. They just don’t get much respect.
That’s a shame, because these beauties are in fact much tougher than they seem. Armed with facts and a bit of luck, they’re relatively easy to grow on in the garden. Let’s start by demystifying them.
Who’s not familiar with rose of Sharon? A staple in older gardens and rural farmsteads, does it still have a place in today’s modern spaces? Yes! Fortunately, thanks to a number of improvements, there’s more to choose from than ever, including dwarf varieties and better flowers.
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus or Althaea syriacus) has been gracing American yards and farmsteads for generations. Its very staying power over the years says it all for ease of cultivation, excellent longevity and valued late season color.