Masses of violet, pink or magenta daisies cloak bushy New England asters from August to October.
Size: 3-5' x 24" Care: Full sun dry to moist soil. Drought tolerant. Native: Vt to Alabama, west to N. M., Wisconsin native Wildlife Value: attracts butterflies
Introduced to gardens by Englishman Tradescant the Younger in 1637 when he carried it from Virginia Colony to England. Cultivated by George Washington.
Bouteloua gracilis syn. Bouteloua oligostachya Blue grama Z 4-9
Shortish grass with spikelets like fake eyelashes - very cute
One sided, horizontal, purple tinged spikelets in July-September, very unusual.
Size: 2' x 12" Care: sun in dry to moist well-drained soil. Deer resistant. Native: Manitoba & all US except SE & Pacific NW, Wisconsin native Wildlife Value: attracts butterflies
For the Navajo this was a “life medicine” and an antidote to an overdose of “life medicine.” Also used to cure sore throats and cuts – chew on the root and blow on the cut. Navajo girls carried it in the Squaw Dance. Hopi made baskets from this grass. Zuni made brooms & hairbrushes from it. Several tribes ate this & made bedding for their animals from this. 1st collected for horticulture by Humboldt & Bonpland in early 1800’s.
Carex davalliana Bath’s sedge, Davall’s sedge Z 4-8
Short hedge-hog like clump with white flowers turning to bronzy spiked seedheads May-June. Best for rock, railroad or fairy gardens – anyplace for a miniature, clumping grass.
Size: 6” x 12” Care: sun to light shade in moist soil Native: wet places in Europe and western No. America
Collected before 1798 by Edmund Davall who botanized in Switzerland.