Boltonia asteroides Snowbank

Boltonia asteroides Snowbank is a robust herbaceous perennial, resembling a giant aster, forming a solid and vigorous clump in record time, well-branched and very tall. The plant displays decorative grey-blue-green foliage and produces flowering stems that rise up to 1.50m (5ft) above the ground. In late summer, it transforms into a graceful, light display, producing a cloud made up of hundreds of small white daisies with golden centres.  It thrives in the sun, in moist but well-drained and fertile soil. Airy, rural, charming, this false Aster embodies the spirit of the countryside in the garden!

A species native to the northeastern United States, Boltonia asteroides is a plant in the Asteraceae family. Related to the large asters, it is also known as False Aster. The Snowbank cultivar, slightly shorter than the type, is a vigorous and well-branched herbaceous perennial with very rapid growth. In summer, large, sturdy flowering stems up to 1.50 m (5ft) high appear, highly resistant to rain or wind. The deciduous foliage is composed of lanceolate, finely toothed leaves, 10 to 12 cm (4 to 5in) long, of a beautiful blue-green colour, slightly glaucous, gradually turning greener. From August to October, pure white flowers with golden centres, 2 cm (1in) in diameter, bloom in panicles measuring 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) in diameter. This variety forms a magnificent, elegant, and airy bouquet of small white Aster flowers. Nectariferous and polliniferous, its flowers attract many pollinating insects. Boltonia asteroides Snowbank takes on the appearance of a tuft of narrow, single leaves in winter.

Boltonia asteroides Snowbank, with its large size, is an ideal ornamental plant for large gardens and natural-style flower beds. Its height makes it a great choice for decorating the back of flower beds, where it will bring lightness, elegance, volume, and colour. Boltonia asteroides Snowbank can be adapted to a small garden by cutting back the stems in spring. This way, the flowering stems will reach 1 m (3ft) instead of 1.50 m (5ft). Its autumnal flowering allows for the creation of flower beds with staggered blooms, attractive all year round. With its wild appearance and late flowering, it blends wonderfully with ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus, Aster turbinellus, Aster laevis Calliope, autumn Chrysanthemums, large Japanese Anemones, or everblooming shrubby Lavateras. Its splendid blue-green foliage pairs well with coloured foliage or branches, as well as trimmed shrubs, for beautiful garden scenes full of contrasts. The lightness and grace of its flower panicles provide ample cut flowers for creating generous rustic bouquets.