Aside from hardy Chrysanthemums , there are Asters, Boltonia, the tall Sedums , and ornamental grasses. A few species of Aster bloom in the spring, but the overwhelming majority of them bloom in the late summer to early fall. Asters are botanically related to daisies. The flowers resemble tiny daisies produced by the hundreds. Some plants bloom so heavily that the foliage becomes obscured.
Colors range from white, pink, maroon, the entire range of blue shades, to a bright purple.
Plant habit ranges from upright 3-4' tall plants to low, mounding varieties that grow to a foot or less high. Asters can provide many years of reliable fall color if they are grown in a sunny location, in a well-drained soil that is not allowed to become extremely dry during the summer. Here is a short descriptive list of some the best varieties. Asters Purple Dome Alma Potschke Woods Pink Woods Purple Prof. Kippenberg Aster ' Alma Potschke ' is a 3-4' variety with stunning bright pink flowers that blooms in August and September.