A Late Season Border Idea with Asters and Grasses

Perennial Combinations, Plant Combinations, Flowerbeds Ideas, Fall Borders

Garden Ideas, Border ideas, Perennial Planting, Perennial combination, Fall Borders, aster Raydon's Favorite, Fall Aster, Calamagrostis, Feather grass, stipa tenuissima, nasella tenuissima, Gaura

Get inspired by this late season gravel garden where the showy violet-blue daisies of Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ (Aromatic Aster) are beautifully combined with striking ornamental grasses, including the architectural Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ (Feather Reed Grass), the silky silvery feathers of Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) and the arrow-like flower heads of Calamagrostis brachytricha (Reed Grass).

Adding contrasting color, the tall wands of Gaura lindheimeri (Lindheimer’s Beeblossom) add a unique texture with their white and pink flowers giving the appearance of butterflies floating in the garden.

An excellent border idea for the sunny landscape. Easy to grow, most plants are drought tolerant, deer and rabbit resistant and virtually pest and disease free. Enjoy!

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Garden Information

Hardiness	7 - 8
Heat Zones	7 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun
Season of Interest	Summer (Late), Fall
Maintenance	Average
Water Needs	Low, Average
Soil Type	Loam, Sand
Soil pH	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Attracts	Birds, Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders
Garden Styles	Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Plants In This Garden

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'Raydon’s Favorite' (Aromatic Aster)

Reliable and extremely showy, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ (Aromatic Aster) is a compact perennial forming a mound of radiant color from late summer to fall with its profuse, violet-blue daisy-like flowers adorned with deep yellow centers.

Hardiness	3 - 8
Plant type	Perennials
Height	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass)

Mexican Feather Grass (Stipa tenuissima) is a stunning ornamental grass with slender, silvery-green foliage that dances in the breeze, adding elegance to any garden.

Hardiness	7 - 11
Plant type	Ornamental Grasses
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' (Feather Reed Grass)

One of the most popular ornamental grasses worldwide, Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ (Feather Reed Grass) is a majestic ornamental grass, highly valued for its erect feathery flower plumes, moving gracefully with even the slightest breeze. Fast-growing, reliable, with a multi-season interest, this cool season grass is not only beautiful, but it is also virtually carefree and quite versatile.

Hardiness	4 - 8
Plant type	Ornamental Grasses
Height	3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Gaura lindheimeri (White Gaura)

Native to Texas and Louisiana, Lindheimer’s Beeblossom (Gaura lindheimeri) is a remarkably pretty perennial plant with tall, airy-looking flowers giving the appearance of butterflies floating in the garden.

Hardiness	5 - 9
Plant type	Perennials
Height	2' - 4' (60cm - 120cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)

Calamagrostis brachytricha (Reed Grass)

Sparkling in the morning dew with its large arrow-like flower heads pointing towards the sky, Reed Grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha) is a majestic and distinct ornamental grass, highly valued for its erect feathery silvery gray flower plumes, slightly red tinged, and turning to gold then light tan as the seeds ripen in the fall and winter

Hardiness	4 - 9
Plant type	Ornamental Grasses
Height	3' - 4' (90cm - 120cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)

Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star)

One of the tallest blazing stars, Liatris pycnostachya (Prairie Blazing Star) is an upright, clump-forming perennial boasting fluffy spikes densely packed with deep rose-purple flowers. Stamens and styles protrude from the tufted flower heads, creating a fuzzy appearance.

Hardiness	3 - 9
Plant type	Perennials
Height	2' - 5' (60cm - 150cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Yucca elata (Soaptree Yucca)

One of the most reliable trunking yuccas for cold climates, Yucca elata (Soaptree Yucca) is a very ornamental, slow-growing, evergreen tree-like yucca boasting a dense rosette of narrow, linear, blue-green leaves, up to 4 ft. long (120 cm). The sharp-pointed leaves display white margins and produce fine, silvery filaments.

Hardiness	6 - 11
Plant type	Cactus & Succulents, Trees
Height	6' - 20' (180cm - 6.1m)
Spread	8' - 10' (240cm - 3m)

Artemisia 'Powis Castle'

Good-looking, drought tolerant and fragrant, award-winner Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ is a bushy sub-shrub, which is highly valued for its fernlike, silvery-white foliage, that easily blends with any flower bulbs and other perennial plants. Yellow flowers appear in late summer or early fall, but they are not spectacular and are best cut off to keep the foliage at its best.

Hardiness	6 - 9
Plant type	Shrubs
Height	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread	3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm)

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Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas

Liatris (Blazing Star) Gaura Yucca Stipa (Feather Grass) Calamagrostis (Reed Grass) Artemisia Aster

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Alternative Plants to Consider

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’ (Aromatic Aster)

Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ (Beeblossom)

Chanticleer Garden

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.