Asteraceae Ideas, Tips & Guides

Calendula, Calendula officinalis, aka pot marigold, is an annual flowering herb in the aster family that’s suited to cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 11.We link to vendors to help you find releva

Sure, you can purchase new seeds each year at the nursery. But saving them is a simple process, and one that’s easy to master when you want to fill your garden with more cosmos.I began my seed-harvesting journe

Chrysanthemums are tough plants that are known for being maintenance-free, and it’s hard to even imagine them dying from some disease.So when they start to look a bit sad and wilty, it’s easy to ass

The New York aster, Symphyotrichum novi-belgii, is a showstopper in the late season garden, taking center stage as summer flowers fade to memories.We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our l

Here are two things I love: wildflowers, and collecting seeds from my garden to save for next year.It only makes sense to combine the two into

Calendula is one of my very favorite herbs to grow in the garden. The bright, cheerful flowers provide a splash of color in the autumn months and bring light to even the dreariest of chilly days.On crisp fall mornings, I like to stroll through

Perennial asters are members of the large Asteraceae family of plants that includes chrysanthemums, daisies, and sunflowers.And while many have a bushy growth habit, only on

Marigolds are widely recognized as one of the easiest plants to grow. They can thrive in various soil types, bloom from summer to autumn, and are incredibly hardy.In short, marigolds are marvelous.We link to ve

Are you a wildflower fan without a meadow of your own to seed? Create your own mini potted display by planting cosmos in containers instead.Their wispy, fernlike clouds o

Goldenrods are late-season wildflowers bearing big sprays of beautiful golden blooms that are both a delight to behold and an important food source for birds and pollinators.And with over 120 different species, there’s one well-

When the seasons shift towards autumn, have you ever noticed a thick carpet of gold flowers gilding an old pasture or field?While it might look like the mythical King Midas had

Not just another pretty face in a lush and lazy garden, yarrow (Achillea) earns its keep in the worst soils with the least amount of water.If you’ve got barren areas crying out for color, it’s yarrow to the rescue!

Chrysanthemums are pretty much effortless to grow.After coddling my fussy old world roses all summer, I

Chrysanthemums are more than just a pretty face. We love these plants for their colorful pom poms that last all summer long, but underneath that cheery facade lies a killer.Of insects, that is.We link to vendors to help

Growing and gathering herbs for healing remedies is empowering, and it’s the best way to ensure the freshness and quality of plants you use in your kitchen and apothecary.Cultivating medicinal plants is a great way t

If you’re looking for a drought-tolerant perennial with a slightly quirky vibe, meet your new favorite prairie native – Mexican hat!We link to vendors to help you find relevant prod

With its cheery mounds of yellow blooms, desert marigold is a waterwise species adapted to arid landscapes.This drought-tolerant native of the American Southwest can

Many gardeners plant marigolds in their veggie patches to repel bugs and other types of pests. But let me tell you – marigolds offer so much more than pretty pest control.Tagetes erecta, or African marigolds, belong t

Growing cover crops is a sustainable way to add organic matter to your soil and prevent erosion.When you choose to plant sunflowers

Are you sick of mowing all the time? Why not replace that time consuming, resource draining lawn with a beautiful meadow of low-growing chamomile?Perfect for slopes and other hard to

Some plants are often regarded as short-lived wonders in North American gardens, sticking around for a good time but not a long one. And chrysanthemums are one of those plants.We buy them by the bushelful i

Chrysanthemums have earned their reputation as tough, maintenance-free flowers for the home garden and they’re extremely popular for this reason.If you want bright color without a lot of work or worry a

Can I expect you back next year? Sunflowers can’t announce their intentions, but the perennial varieties will indeed return to your garden next season without involved effort from you.Other cultivars, of course, must be reseeded, but that doe

Ornamental sky blue aster, Symphyotrichum oolentangiense, formerly Aster azureus, is a native herbaceous perennial that readily naturalizes in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8.It toils away all season long, forming branching foliage. Then it

The Aster genus of flowering plants is one of many in the large Asteraceae family that includes chrysanthemums and daisies.The blooms have a compo

Quick, picture a black-eyed Susan. I bet you imagined a daisy-like yellow flower with a black center, right?It’s true, black-eyed Susans don’t have the variability that something like ros

Close your eyes and picture the flora of fall. What comes to mind?There’s probably an overgrown pu

The marigold is often suggested as a beneficial companion plant in the veggie garden.But marigolds (Tagetes spp.) can

Bellis perennis, the original daisy chain flower, can be quite common in lawns, especially in cool, moist climates.And thanks to the work of plant breeders, there are a

Calendula-infused oil is a must-have in my herbal apothecary or first aid kit. I gather enough flowers throughout the growing season to infuse for use in my favorite herbal serums, creams, balms, and salves.We link to vendors to help you

Here’s a confession for you: even though I love them, I used to be too lazy to eat sunflower seeds. Unshelled ones, anyway.All that work cracking them

Asters are perennial flowers that bloom near the end of the growing season. They produce voluminous sprays of small, daisy-like flowers in shades of blue, pink, purple, and white.We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If

As far as satisfying gardening experiences go, I think I’ve got my top three favorites settled: biting into the first jalapeno of the season, watching my heuchera really wake up and shine in the early summer, and deadheading marigolds.I can’t say there’s a more s

The blue, pink, purple, and white blossoms of late-season perennial asters are a welcome sight as the growing season draws to a close.They renew the tired

The heath aster, Symphyotrichum ericoides, formerly Aster ericoides, is native to central and eastern regions of the United States and Canada, where it is often spotted along the highway.We link to vendors to help you find relevant produc

Marigolds have a bit of a reputation in the gardening world. They’re known for repelling all manner of pests and diseases, whether they’ve technically earned these accolades or not.It’s extremely common to see their