Agertum’s easy-going nature and unique blooms make it an excellent addition to cut flower gardens, flower boxes, and planters. If you want to grow it at home, join flower farmer Briana Yablonski to learn planting and care tips. If you’re looking for a flower that serves a supporting role in the garden and floral studio, ageratum is one of your best choices. These easy-to-care-for annuals produce clusters of blooms topped with tufts of silk-like ray flowers that give a unique and soft look. While they won’t steal the spotlight in the garden, they add a soft texture and subtle pop of color. Most of the flowers are blue, but you can also find varieties in shades of pink, purple, and white. The plants continue to pump out new blooms for multiple months, providing long-lasting color. Plus, the blooms hold up well when cut and attract pollinators of all kinds. What Is It? Ageratum goes by several names, including floss flower, blue mist flower, and bluemink. It’s an annual plant that’s native to Central America but widely grown throughout the world as an ornamental. In some locations, it’s escaped cultivation and become a nuisance plant. You can find multiple varieties of Ageratum houstonianum that vary in height and flower color. Some of these cultivars work well as short bedding plants, and others produce long stems that make them suitable options for filler flowers in arrangements. Characteristics Ageratum is a flowering annual that grows best in summer. It has a mounding growth habit with densely packed, branching stems covered with slightly fuzzy, ovate leaves. Some varieties rarely grow more than six inches tall, while others send out two-foot-long stems. Clusters of small, round flowers appear on the top of the stems. Blue is the most common flower color, but you can also find varieties with white, purple, or pink blooms. All of the flowers have elongated ray florets that look like tufts of silky floss. Some people confuse ageratum with blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum). While both of these plants produce similar flowers, the latter is a cold-tolerant perennial that’s native to the eastern half of the United States. Native Range Ageratum is native to portions of Central America and Mexico. Although it can complete its life cycle in a few months, it often remains living for multiple years in these frost-free areas. Planting Whether you want to tuck a few ageratum plants into a planter or front yard garden bed, or add taller varieties to your cutting garden, starting with healthy plants is key. Since ageratum is an annual, you’ll need to replant these flowers each year. Starting with seeds or transplants are both viable options, so choose the one that works best for you.

Douglas asters erupt into bloom from late summer through autumn. Their purple petals and yellow centers decorate landscapes throughout western North America. Why not add them to your garden? Learn how to best care for these wildflowers alongside native plant gardener Jerad Bryant. Douglas asters pop up around the same time that goldenrods do. You’ll see purple-yellow aster-like blooms alongside large yellow flower spikes of goldenrods. Both of these native species attract pollinators like butterflies and bees, and they help local insect species that need resources. When you plant perennials like Douglas aster, you invite animals to return where they once were. Flowers lure bugs, bugs lure birds, and birds lure larger predatory animals. You feed the local food web by simply planting native flowers. This radical act will make your garden look gorgeous and boost your confidence as a naturalist. A naturalist is anyone who wants to learn about their local environment. All you have to do is put time and effort into studying it. You don’t need a fancy degree or accreditation! Simply plant native plants and create a wildlife oasis in your backyard. In the West, Douglas aster is one of the toughest, easiest to grow, and most beautiful species you can start with. Start with a few Douglas aster plants and watch as wildlife descends on them in droves. After seeing the benefits of one native species, you’ll want to plant dozens more! What Is It? Douglas asters are native wildflowers of western North America. Although aster is a part of their name, they are not true asters of the Aster genus. They’re a part of the Symphyotrichum genus, which includes other North American asters like Michaelmas daisy and leafy aster. These New World asters work better in our landscapes than non-native ones, as they appeal to the insects and animals that live on our continent. Consider subbing marginally hardy and non-native asters for gorgeous, frost-tolerant, and tough native species. Native Area Douglas asters are close relatives of New York asters and Michaelmas daisies. The western species grows from Alaska southward through California, and east to Montana and Idaho. It prefers sandy sites near bodies of water, forests, and open meadows. Find the plants growing where Canada goldenrods are, as the two prefer similar conditions. I often see this perennial poking out of the sand near the Willamette River by my home. It sprouts where the trees let sunlight poke through. The ample moisture near the riverside allows the roots to creep into new locations underground while the stems sow seeds aboveground, giving the plants two chances at spreading. Characteristics Douglas aster plants are leafy perennials with many qualities similar to European asters and daisies. They sprout hairy stems early with lance-shaped leaves. The leaves often have small teeth on the edges, and their tops and bottoms are hairless and green. This North American aster reaches between 8 and 48 inches tall, although it sometimes grows taller and leggy if it doesn’t receive enough sunlight. In late summer through late autumn you’ll see dozens of flowers open up on the stem tips. They have purple-blue petals and sunshine-yellow composite centers. Each composite center contains dozens of tiny flowers that form heads with multiple seeds after successful pollination. Leave the stems and seed heads and they’ll feed hungry birds throughout the winter. In cold zones with winter chill, this perennial dies back to the soil level. New sprouts emerge in spring as days lengthen and temperatures warm. Planting Because this is a tough perennial wildflower, getting it into the ground is simple. Your specimen will take off with new root growth shortly after planting and likely bloom this year. Seedlings may take longer to blossom and most likely will flower in their second year after growing successfully. Start seeds if potted plants are unavailable; otherwise, it’s easier to plant mature specimens from containers.

Coneflowers are a beautiful addition to the garden and are excellent for attracting wildlife. Add some PowWow 'Wild Berry' coneflowers to your garden for an extra bright pop of purple that lasts all summer! Gardening expert Melissa Strauss goes over how to grow and care for this fun hybrid. Coneflowers, or Echinacea, are sturdy and beautiful perennials with daisy-like flowers. Their spiky cones provide an ample supply of nectar for pollinators, and their seed heads make excellent food for overwintering birds and other small animals. Their attractive flowers, paired with their long blooming season and pollinator appeal, make these a staple for many gardeners. While the most common color for these flowers is purple, some cultivars bloom in shades of yellow, pink, white, and orange. What Is PowWow® ‘Wild Berry’ Coneflower? PowWow® ‘Wild Berry’ is a hybrid coneflower known for its extra intense color, compact size, and reliable blooming habit. Developed by PanAm Seed Co., this variety is a hybrid, but it’s bred from the Echinacea purpurea species. It’s still considered a hybrid, as it has been bred for specific traits, such as vivid color and vigorous growth. Characteristics PowWow® ‘Wild Berry’ is a flowering perennial with vibrant magenta flowers that are brighter and more saturated than those of its parent species, Echinacea purpurea. The flowers are three to four inches across and begin blooming in early summer in most climates, but they may start to bloom earlier in warm climates. The lovely purple petals surround a spiky cone at the center. The cone of this cultivar is bold, coppery-orange. It’s shorter than most standard varieties, reaching a height of around 20 inches, making it a great border option. It also works well in containers. The foliage is standard for the genus. Lance-shaped leaves are deep green with a rough texture. The leaves are evenly spaced along strong, slender stems. They make fabulous cut flowers. When it comes to attracting pollinators, these will do the job splendidly. Native Area Echinacea purpurea, the parent species, is native to most of the Eastern and Central United States, and north into Canada. It grows in meadows, prairies, and open wooded areas. It’s a versatile and adaptable plant that can grow in most soil types and climates. Planting Because this variety is compact, it makes a great container plant. It’s also lovely in borders or mixed beds, and in pollinator gardens. You can plant seedlings in spring or fall. Wait until after the last frost in spring, or plant at least six weeks before the first frost in fall.