Photo: Asters and Goldenrod, courtesy of Plant NoVA Natives
It’s fall, and most healthy plants are looking rather spent as they go dormant for the winter. But some natives are happily blooming away for the first time this growing season, catching your eye with their intense colors and soothing away year-end gardening blues. Asters and goldenrods are the stars of this show, providing a beautiful color contrast with each other when planted together.
Aside from their lovely, long-lasting blooms, they are “keystone” native plants, so named because they feed the most species of insects, butterflies, birds, and other animals in our area. Along with several other keystone plants and trees, asters and goldenrods are wildlife engines that support many local ecosystems. They are obvious choices for fall gardens. It is encouraging if not inspiring to know that if you have access to an empty outdoor potting container or a bit of open ground, you can plant a keystone species and help reinstitute the biodiversity of the continent! Continue reading here.
