# @ahs_gardening on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DdRroniG90s
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70569586-ahs-gardening-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/016452cd5c.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-14T17:33:34.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Horticultural Society | American Gardener Magazine (@ahs_gardening) — https://gondola.cc/ahs_gardening

## Caption

*NATIVE PLANT OF THE WEEK*⁠
False Aster or False Chamomile (Boltonia asteroides, Zones 3–9)⁠
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From a distance, this rhizomatous herbaceous perennial can be mistaken for baby’s breath. Up close, its late-season flowers resemble small asters. Though it looks delicate, it’s a vigorous grower and needs space. In the right place and with tough love, it will be an asset in an informal or pollinator garden.⁠
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Native to moist and wet prairies and meadows and along stream banks in eastern and central North America.⁠
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At a Glance⁠
• Grows 4 to 6 feet tall⁠
• Flowers are usually white but may also be pink or purple⁠
• Blooms in late summer to early fall⁠
• Upright habit with airy branch structure⁠
• Narrow, gray-green leaves⁠
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Why Grow It⁠
• Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators⁠
• Makes a great cut flower⁠
• Not generally bothered by insect pests or deer⁠
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Growing It⁠
• Full sun to part shade⁠
• Moist, well-drained soils; tolerates other soil types⁠
• Prune back by half in late spring or early summer to keep plants shorter and less prone to flopping; otherwise, staking may be needed⁠
• Deadhead flowers to reduce reseeding⁠
• Divide plants every few years to reduce spreading⁠
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Design Tips⁠
• Adds fine texture as a filler plant⁠
• Plant in groups for best effect⁠
• Use at the back of borders⁠
• Great for meadows, where naturalizing is desirable⁠
• Suited for informal gardens, pollinator gardens, rain gardens, and cutting gardens⁠
• For small gardens, consider a compact selection such as  Boltonia asteroides var. latisquama ‘Snowbank’ or ‘Nana’, which grows 3 to 4 feet tall⁠
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Photos (all iNaturalist)⁠
Massed by Michael R. Ostrowski⁠
Flowers closeup by psweet⁠
In prairie by Vlad Nevirkovets⁠
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#nativeplants⁠
#pollinatorplants⁠
#meadowgardens⁠

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## Tags

meadowgardens, pollinatorplants, nativeplants

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