Thursday, August 28, 2008

Bolton's Aster

Bolton's Aster
Boltonia asteroides var. latisquama 'Jim Crockett'
(bol-TO-nee-uh)
Synonyms: White Doll's Daisy, False Aster, False Chamomile, Thousand Flower

Boltonia usually comes to my mind as a fall flower but it actually starts blooming in late summer. This is a semi-dwarf type (20 inches tall) that is really free flowering. I didn’t know one of the common names for this plant was Thousand Flower, it fits perfectly! It was developed by Thomas Boyle at UMass and is named after the first host of the Victory Garden. That is a public television gardening show that has been on for over thirty years. I don’t recall seeing lately. Here is a link:
PBS/Victory Garden

This variety of Bolton’s Aster is supposed to be more resistant to Powdery Mildew and mine haven’t got it. There has been quite of bit of Powdery Mildew around here lately. It has been growing in the rose garden and I had to take off several branches to try and stop the spread of it.

I am half way through the big transplanting project. It hasn’t rained in weeks but I put the Bio-Plex transplanting Aid on and haven’t seen any problems yet. The stuff is remarkable.

4 comments:

joey said...

Bolton's Aster is a beauty, Chris, though the thought of asters blooming makes me a touch sad knowing autumn is on the horizon. We are inches behind in August rain also, however, woke to a dreary morning and drizzle that hopefully will come your way.

Digital Flower Pictures said...

We didn't get that rain. You are right about the season. The #1 way I can tell is it is now pitch black when I get up.

WiseAcre said...

I see a just a slight tint of purple in the Bolton's Aster.

I don't normally think of Asters being white and had that impression wiped clean the other day when I identified some white wildflowers I took pics of.

Flat Topped White Aster has flowers that look very similar but the plants would tower over the Boltons growing up to 7 feet tall.

DrowseyMonkey-Photos said...

So pretty. All of your photos are gorgeous.