Short Woodland Perennials
Aster (Symphyotrichum)ericoides (Heath Aster)
Dimensions: 2' x 1-2'
Bloom Color: White
Bloom Period: August-October
Light: Full sun-partial shade
Moisture/Soil: Med-dry. Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Does well in sandy or clay soils. Generally tolerates poor soils and drought.
Propagation: Rhizomatous. Seed viability low. Propagate by division of mature plants which produce numerous, easily-separated rhizomes. Divide in late fall or early spring.
Larva/Animals Hosted: Pearl Crescent butterfly.
Comments: Typically occurs in open rocky woods, prairies and along roads and railroads.
Aster (Symphyotrichum)oblongifolius (Aromatic Aster)
Dimensions: 2' x 12-18"
Bloom Color: Pale purple
Bloom Period: August-October
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Moisture/Soil: Med-dry. Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Does well in sandy or clay soils. Generally tolerates poor soils and drought.
Propagation: Sow seeds, 5/8 deep, outside in fall or provide cold stratification. Also propagated by softwood cuttings taken in late spring.
Comments: Slowly colonizes by stolons, so thin regularly to control it. The plant may open up if it gets to top heavy so it is a good idea to keep it thick by pruning it back by no more than half in June.
Blephilia ciliata (Downy Wood Mint)
Dimensions: 1'
Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Period: June-July
Light: Full sun-partial shade
Moisture/Soil: Med-dry. Average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils
Comments: Occurs in dryish open woods and thickets, clearings, fields and roadsides.
Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold)
Dimensions: 1-1.5' x 1-1.5'
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Period: April-June
Light: Full sun-shade
Moisture/Soil: Wet. Shallow water at the margins of a pond or water garden or in wet, muddy, humus-rich, boggy soil.
Propagation: LRhizomatous. Sow fresh seeds immediately upon ripening. Seedlings flower 3rd year after germination. Reproduces rapidly by division.
Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold)
Dimensions: 1-1.5' x 1-1.5'
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Period: April-June
Light: Full sun-shade
Moisture/Soil: Wet. Shallow water at the margins of a pond or water garden or in wet, muddy, humus-rich, boggy soil.
Propagation: LRhizomatous. Sow fresh seeds immediately upon ripening. Seedlings flower 3rd year after germination. Reproduces rapidly by division.
Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern Red Columbine)
Dimensions: 2-3’x 1-1.5’
Bloom Color: Red
Bloom Period: May-June
Light: Full Sun-Part Shade
Moisture/Soil: Average fertility; medium moisture, well-drained soil.
Animals/Insects Hosted: Larval host to Columbine Duskywing. Blooms attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and hawk moths. Seeds consumed by finches and buntings.
Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold)
Dimensions: 1-1.5' x 1-1.5'
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Period: April-June
Light: Full sun-shade
Moisture/Soil: Wet. Shallow water at the margins of a pond or water garden or in wet, muddy, humus-rich, boggy soil.
Propagation: LRhizomatous. Sow fresh seeds immediately upon ripening. Seedlings flower 3rd year after germination. Reproduces rapidly by division.