Boltonia decurrens
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Boltonia asteroides var. decurrens
- Boltonia latisquama var. decurrens
- Phonetic Spelling
- bol-TOH-nee-ah de-KUR-renz
- Description
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Decurrent False Aster is an herbaceous perennial, a species of flowering plant native to a small area of Illinois and Missouri and is protected under the Endangered Species act. It grows along floodplains and wetlands and in moist bottomlands of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. Although native to those area only, seeds may be obtained by gardeners in other areas of the country. The plant requires periodic flooding, but not continued standing water and can grow quite tall, requiring staking or other support.
Decurrent False Aster typically forms a clump 4 to 6 feet tall on erect branching stems. Pale pink or purple-tinged to white daisy-like flowers (to 1” diameter) cover this aster-like plant with a profuse bloom in August and September. Each flower has pale pink to white rays with a yellow center disk.
Decurrent False Aster prefers full sun, wet to moist conditions, and fertile soil containing loam, clay-loam, or silty deposits. The plant can tolerate drier conditions in gardens if it is watered during dry spells. The plant will grow best if cut back by a third in the Spring.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: May require support when tall. Powdery mildew may be a problem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Boltonia
- Species:
- decurrens
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central United States, eastern IL western MO
- Distribution:
- Found in Eastern Illinois and Western Missouri, along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer resistance
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Achenes are obovoid, somewhat flattened and winged. They are dispersed by the wind or float on water.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Daisy-like flowers born on dome-shaped panicles up to 2 feet across from late Summer into Autumn. Each daisy-like flowerhead is ¾–1" across, consisting of 40-60 white to purple-tinged ray florets that surround a dense head of yellow disk florets.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Lance-shaped, clasping, spreading to drooping leaves are alternate on the stem and becoming smaller as they ascend. Central stems leaves are up to 7" long and 1½" across. Leaf venation is pinnate and prominent near the base. Lateral stems develop from the axils of the leaves, especially in the middle to upper sections. These leaves are smaller at 3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide, elliptic or linear-lanceolate in shape, margins entire, and either sessile or decurrent at their bases forming wings.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
- Stem Description:
- Either a solitary or branching central stems are vertically veined, glabrous, round and sometimes glaucous.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
