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Products > Boltonia asteroides
 
Boltonia asteroides - False Aster

San Marcos Growers has permanently closed as a business. This is an archived page preserved for informational use.  
Image of Boltonia asteroides
[2nd Image]
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Perennial
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflowers)
Origin: North America
Flower Color: White
Bloomtime: Summer/Fall
Height: 4-6 feet
Width: 4-6 feet
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Deer Tolerant: Yes
Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: < 0 °F
Boltonia asteroides (False Aster) A large open herbaceous shrub-like perennial that can grow upright to 5 to 6 feet tall and spreads slowly by rhizomes, but with some shade tends to grow wider as stems lay over and the plant then only reaches to around 4 feet tall. It has branching stems bearing 5 inch long narrow lance-shaped dark gray-green leaves and in late summer into early fall appear the sprays of 3/4 inch wide daisies with white ray and central yellow disk flowers. Plant in full sun and give occasional to regular irrigation. It is very hardy and can be grown in USDA Zones 3 to 10 and also tolerates wet, dry and clay soils. Pinch or cut back in late spring to control size and to keep more dense. It is great in a large meadow planting and in border backgrounds. It is also is a good filler cut flower in arrangements and the flowers attract butterflies. False Aster is native to moist prairies, meadows, marshes, stream banks and around ponds in eastern and central North America from Canada south and ranging within the US from Oregon to Maine south into the southern states and Texas. The genus name honors James Bolton (1735-1799), English naturalist, botanist, mycologist, and illustrator. The specific epithet means "resembling aster" in reference to the similar flowers. Besides False Aster, another common name is False Chamomile. We thank the Grassman and Meadowmaster John Greenlee for providing us with the seed of this plant from the plant growing in his San Francisco area garden. 

The information displayed on this page about Boltonia asteroides is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.

 
We closed for regular business at the end of 2025 in order for the property to be developed for affordable housing.
Our gates remain closed but we will open them by appointment to interested parties as we liquidate remaining supplies and equipment.