Bodacious Autumn Blooms

I am a big fan of the bright yellows, rich reds, sizzling oranges that will soon begin to shine on my trees and shrubs as autumn settles in across the land. However, just for fun and to offset these blazing colors, I often resort to the cooling purple hues of late blooming asters.

One aster that has been dependable in a big way for me in the fall is Tatarian aster (Aster tataricus). And I do mean big — this bodacious herbaceous perennial can easily top out at over 6 feet in the garden!

Tatarian aster is native to Asia but has had a long presence in the States. In fact, Thomas Jefferson liked this imported biggie so much that he featured it in his gardens at Monticello.

As cooler temperatures settle in for the season, Tatarian aster launches its galaxy of 1-inch, bluish-purple stars with yellow centers. These flowers are not only pretty, but they are pretty persistent, lasting for weeks. They are also welcomed fly-ins for nectar-hungry bees and butterflies still on the wing as the growing season winds down.

The straight species of Tatarian aster is, as mentioned, a big plant. So, if flower bed perennials taller than yourself make you flinch (or if you simply lack garden space), try the cultivar “Jindai,” which restrains itself to around 3- to 4-feet high but still has comparable flower power to turn heads in the fall.

Jindai is a popular cultivar, and it will most likely be the Tatarian aster you will find for sale at garden centers this fall (probably in full bloom). If your search locally comes up empty, Jindai is an easy online find, but because of physical impracticality of shipping mature plants, bet the farm what you will get is a nubby little number that takes at least a year to settle in and start flaunting flowers.

Tatarian aster is a deer-resistant toughie that can grow in most types of soil, but it will perform better in rich garden dirt. Also, for riots of blooms your neighbors will talk about, give this aster sun, sun and more sun.

A happy Tatarian aster will spread by way of underground rhizomes — sometimes to the point of overstepping its allotted space, so dividing it about every two to three years in the spring will help keep its wandering ways in check.

Garden To-Do's for September

Is there a blue ribbon winner in your garden?

How did your garden grow this year? If your vegetables and ornamentals put on quite a show, maybe it’s time to take some of the better showoffs to the next level. The NC State Fair in Raleigh is next month (Oct. 17–27), meaning you have time to get your plants in shape to enter in the Fair’s Flower and Garden Exhibits’ competitions, which include contests for best vegetables, fruits, cut flowers, houseplants, floral arrangements, bonsai and much more. So, if you think you have blue ribbon quality plants, check out the Flower and Garden categories and rules at ncstatefair.org.

• Continue to patrol the rose bed. In particular, watch for any signs of black spot and snip off infected leaves. Since black spot is a soil-borne disease that can overwinter in the garden, also rake up and dispose of fallen flowers and foliage at least once a week now.
• Christmas isn’t here yet, but it’s around the proverbial corner. This means many garden centers are probably having sales on handyman helpers such as lawn mowers, tillers, weed eaters, hedge trimmers, and other such outdoor equipment in order to make room for holiday merchandise.