One of the most, if not the most, recognizable flowers of summer is Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower). Found throughout eastern North America, this plant has been cultivated and hybridized to have orange, yellow, or green flowers, in addition to pompom and double flowers—the list is becoming endless. Many of these are more like annuals, as often they do not return for a second season of growth. This author recommends the following, alongside the species, to be most reliable, including Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus,’ E. purpurea ‘Rubinstern’ (a.k.a. ‘Ruby Star’), E. purpurea ‘Merlot,’ E. purpurea ‘White Swan.’
Although not often planted, Echinacea pallida (pale purple coneflower) is a good selection, as it is distinguishable by its rays of narrow drooping pale purple petals and narrow, toothless parallel-veined leaves. These plants are all long flowering from June through July, and sporadically into August. Many gardeners choose not to deadhead these plants as insects and birds visit them on a daily basis.
Geum triflorum (prairie smoke) is a clumping herbaceous (often-evergreen) native throughout much of northern parts of North America, including a good portion of Ontario. This plant is not only a natural addition to the garden, but it is also a great groundcover. The fuzzy-haired leaves are soft to the touch with three nodding purplish-red-to-pink flowers per stem, which are followed by extremely attractive seed heads. Early flowering in April, sometimes March these days, through May. This perennial is drought tolerant and does really well in a variety of soil types.
Learning the asters can be quite the endeavor
Many of the most common varieties have now been reclassified as Symphyotrichum sp. By the time fall arrives, the perennial palate available to pollinators has been greatly reduced and, unfortunately, many homeowners consider asters and goldenrod to be weeds. That said, a change in thinking is necessary here. Symphyotrichum and Solidago are among the few native perennial plants that flower during this season, along with Eupatorium maculatum (Joe Pye weed), reclassified as Eutrochium maculatum, which available to pollinators and many beneficial insects and birds for food. They self-seed readily, and for good reason.
This author selectively removes any of these three plants depending on where they have landed in the garden, while leaving others for forage to pollinators. Another option is deadheading flowers before the seed ripens and disperses. There are many aster species and cultivars available, as well. Recommended varieties include Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster) snowberry, and a terrific cultivar Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’ (aromatic aster), which has dark, sky-blue flowers.
Goldenrod, which is adored by bees and butterflies, does not cause hay fever. Pollen grains from plants that are wind-pollinated are, in fact, the bane to allergy sufferers. They are just as challenging to identify as the asters.
Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod) is only one among many species. Solidago flexicaulis (zigzag goldenrod) grows in woods and tolerates shade. These can be used as a great alternative plant for shade gardens. Eutrochium maculatum (Joe Pye weed) tends to be an underused plant in the landscape border. Often misconceived as a roadside weed, this is a sizeable plant with tons of possibilities to provide profuse late summer into late fall flowering and height.
A non-native staple to the late summer/early fall garden are anemones. Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’ (windflower, grapeleaf anemone) are typically added to a garden for its vitality and long-flowering ability. Bees can be found around this plant from early morning to feeding time. It can be quite vigorous, but by no means is it uncontrollable. It flowers forever until a hard frost finally ends its season.
